Part    1 


PRESENTATION  PLATE  GRATIS. 

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ILLUSTRATED    BY    FIFTY-EIO-HT    SUPERB    STEEL    ENGRAVING'S. 


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THE  LIFE 

OF    OUR    LORD    AND    SAVIOUR 

JESUS    CHRIST; 

TOGETHER    WITH    THE    LIVES    OF 

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AND 

A  DISSERTATION   ON  THE   EVIDENCES   OF   CHRISTIANITY. 

BY 

THE  REV.  JOHN  FLEETWOOD,  D.D, 

WITH  A  PREFATORY  NOTICE 

BY    THE    REY.  HENRY    STEBBING,    D.D. 


A  MEDITATION  ON  THE  LOVE  OF  CHRIST,  AND  THE  CHRISTIAN  LAID  FORTH, 

BY   JOSEPH   HALL,  D.D. 

THE  GOLDEN  GROVE,  AND  THE  WORTHY  COMMUNICANT, 

BY   JEREMY   TAYLOR,  D.D. 


VIRTUE  &  YORSTON,  12   DEY  STREET,  NEW  YORK. 


CONTENTS. 


THE    LIFE    OP    CHRIST. 


Chap.  I. — Presage  of  the  Birth  of  Christ.  Pre- 
diction of  the  Birth  of  John  the  Baptist.  Salu- 
tation of  the  blessed  Virgin  by  the  Angel.  Visi- 
tation of  the  Virgin  Mary  to  Elizabeth.  Birth 
of  the  Baptist    5 

Chap.  II. — General  decree  for  taxation  published. 
Birth  of  Christ.  Declaration  of  the  same  to  the 
Shepherds.  Circumcision  and  presentation  of 
Christ  in  the  temple.  The  wise  men  of  the  East 
worship  the  Holy  Child.  Flight  of  Joseph  into 
Egypt.  Massacre  of  the  infants  at  Bethlehem. 
Death  of  Herod.    Return  of  Joseph  out  of  Egypt     13 

Chap.  III. — State  of  our  Lord's  childhood  and 
private  life.  His  argument  with  the  Jewish 
doctors.  Mission,  character,  and  doctrine  of  the 
Baptist.  Baptism  of  Christ,  and  visible  descent 
of  the  Spirit  on  that  solemnity 23 

Chap.  IV. — Commencement  of  our  Saviour's  mi- 
nistry. His  temptation  in  the  wilderness.  De- 
putation of  the  Sanhedrim  to  John  the  Baptist. 
First  miracle  wrought  by  the  blessed  Jesus  ....     31 

Chap.  V. — Expulsion  of  the  profaners  of  the  temple. 
Jesus  visits  and  disputes  with  Nicodemus.  Bap- 
tizes in  Judea.  Instructs  a  poor  Samaritan. 
Heals  a  sick  person  at  Capernaum.  Retires  again 
to  Nazareth,  and  is  expelled  thence  by  his  im- 
pious countrymen    39 

Chap.  VI.— Our  Lord  proceeds  to  Capernaum. 
Adds  to  the  number  of  his  followers.  Proclaims 
the  gospel  in  Galilee.  Preaches  to  a  numerous 
audience  his  well-known  and  excellent  discourse 
upon  the  mount 50 

Chap.  VII. — Our  blessed  Lord  cures  the  leprosy 
and  palsy.  Casts  out  a  devil.  Succours  the 
mother-in-law  of  Peter';  and  afterwards  pursues 
his  journey  through  the  country  of  Galilee  ....      63 

Chap.  VIII. — Jesus  confirms  his  mission  by  pro- 
ducing a  miraculous  draught  of  fishes.  Curing 
the  leprosy  a  second  time.  Appeasing  the  bois- 
terous waves.  Casting  devils  out  of  divers 
persons  grievously  possessed   68 


Chap.  IX. — Our  Lord  proceeds  in  acts  of  mercy 
and  benevolence.  Adds  Matthew  to  the  number 
of  his  disciples.  Casts  out  an  evil  spirit.  Passes 
again  through  Galilee.  Selects  twelve  from 
among  his  disciples,  as  his  constant  followers  and 
companions,  and  harangues  the  multitude  in  an 
excellent  discourse 75 

Chap.  X. — Continuation  of  our  Lord's  glorious 
doctrines,  beneficent  acts,  and  astonishing  mi- 
racles wrought  in  confirmation  of  the  divinity  of 
his  mission,  and  the  extending  of  his  heavenly 
kingdom 86 

Chap.  XL — The  character  of  John  the  Baptist 
cleared  and  justified  by  the  blessed  Jesus.  Dis- 
play of  our  Lord's  humility  and  condescension  by 
conforming  to  the  custom  of  the  age  and  the 
place  where  he  lived 90 

Chap.  XII. — Miraculous  cure  effected  at  the  pool 
of  Bethesda.  Reproof  of  the  superstition  of  the 
Jews,  in  condemning  the  performance  of  neces- 
sary works  on  the  Sabbath-day.  After  doing 
many  acts  of  mercy  and  wonder,  our  blessed  Lord 
is  visited  by  his  mother  and  his  brethren,  and 
makes  a  spiritual  reflection  on  that  incident.  ...     97 

Chap.  XIII. — Our  Lord  delivers  many  remarkable 
parables,  and  explains  several  of  them.  Returns 
to  Nazareth  and  commissions  the  twelve  Apostles, 
whom  he  had  before  selected  as  his  constant 
attendants  and  followers,  to  disperse  and  preach 
the  Gospel  of  the  kingdom  of  God  in  divers 
places.  After  the  death  of  John  the  Baptist, 
the  Apostles  return  to  Nazareth 109 

Chap.  XIV. — Our  Lord  adds  to  the  confirmation 
of  his  mission  and  doctrine  by  working  a  miracle 
in  the  wilderness  of  Bethsaida.  The  people, 
struck  with  the  power  and  grace  of  the  blessed 
Jesus,  propose  to  raise  him  to  the  earthly  dignity 
of  king.  Peter,  by  means  of  his  blessed  Master, 
performs  a  miracle  in  walking  upon  the  sea.  Our 
Lord's  improvement  of  the  miracle  wrought  in 
the  wilderness,  introduced  in  a  discourse  deli- 
vered in  the  synagogue  of  Capernaum 120 


Chap.  XV. — Pharisaical  superstition  severely  repri- 
manded. The  great  Redeemer  continues  to  dis- 
play his  power  and  benevolence,  in  the  relief  of 
several  objects  of  affliction.  Guards  his  disciples 
against  the  prevailing  errors  and  fallacies  of  the 
Scribes  and  Pharisees.  Proceeds  on  the  works  of 
his  Heavenly  leather 135 

Chap.  XVI. — The  blessed  Jesus  delegates  a  special 
power  to  Peter,  one  of  his  disciples.  Pronounces 
the  final  judgment  of  the  world,  and  is  afterwards 
transfigured  upon  the  mount 143 

Chap.  XVII. — Our  Saviour  relieves  a  youth  tortured 
with  a  dumb  spirit.  Conforms  cheerfully  to  the 
custom  of  the  country  by  paying  the  tribute. 
Reproves  the  pride  of  his  disciples,  and  delivers 
some  excellent  moral  precepts 150 

Chap.  XVIII.— Our  blessed  Lord  attends  for  the 
fourth  time  the  celebration  of  the  Passover  at 
Jerusalem.  Harangues  the  multitude  at  the 
solemn  Feast  of  Tabernacles.  Exempts  the 
woman  detected  in  adultery  from  the  punishment 
annexed  by  the  Jews  to  that  crime.  Escapes 
from  the  snares  laid  for  him  by  the  inveterate 
Scribes  and  Pharisees 159 

Chap.  XIX. — Our  Lord  continues  to  work  miracles 
in  confirmation  of  his  mission  and  doctrine.  Calls 
forth  and  sends  out  seventy  disciples.  Preaches 
to  the  people  of  Judea,  by  way  of  parables  ....   175 

Chap.  XX. — The  humble  Jesus  resides  with  Mar- 
tha and  Mary,  two  obscure  women  of  Bethany. 
Improves  a  circumstance  which  occurred  at  the 
Feast  of  Dedication.  Prescribes  a  mode  of  prayer 
to  his  disciples  and  future  followers.  Revisits 
some  of  the  Pharisaical  tribe 189 

Chap.  XXI. — Explanation  of  the  origin  and  opinion 
of  the  different  sects  amongst  the  Jews.  Our 
Lord  teaches  the  multitude  by  plain  discourse, 
and  also  by  parable 201 

Chap.  XXII. — Our  Lord  reproves  the  ignorance  of 
the  people  in  not  understanding  the  signs  which 
preceded  his  appearance.  Pertinently  replies  to 
an  ignorant  question  and  inference  concerning 
the  Galileans.  Teaches  by  parable.  Relieves  a 
distressed  woman;  and  is  warned  to  depart  the 
country,  in  order  to  escape  the  resentment  of 
Herod 211 

Chap.  XXIII. — The  blessed  Jesus  accepts  the  Pha- 
risee's invitation  a  third  time.  Delivers  divers 
parables  representing  the  requisites  for  admittance 
into  the  kingdom  of  God.  The  care  of  the 
Redeemer  for  every  one  of  his  people.  The 
reception  of  a  penitent  sinner,  and  the  punish- 
ment of  misusing  the  benefits  of  the  Gospel    .  .  .  216 

Chap.  XXIV. — Jesus  rebukes  the  insolent  derision 
of  the  Pharisees.  Describes  by  a  parable  the 
nature  of  future  rewards  and  punishments ;  and 
enforces  the  doctrine  of  mutual  forbearance  ....  226 


Chap.  XXV.— Our  Lord  is  applied  to  in  behalf  of 
poor  Lazarus.  Cures  ten  persons  of  the  leprosy 
in  Samaria,  and  restores  Lazarus  to  life 231 

Chap.  XXVI.— The  Great  Prophet  of  Israel  foretells 
the  ruin  of  the  Jewish  state,  enforces  many  im- 
portant doctrines  by  parable.  Blesses  the  chil- 
dren as  emblems  of  the  heavenly  and  Christian 
temper  and  disposition  . '. 239 

Chap.  XXVII. —Our  Lord  departs  from  his  retire- 
ment. Declares  the  only  way  of  salvation.  Shows 
the  duty  of  improving  the  means  of  grace,  by 
the  parable  of  the  vineyard.  Prediction  of  his 
suffering,  and  contention  of  the  disciples  about 
precedence  in  his  kingdom 245 

Chap.  XXVIII. — The  benevolent  Saviour  restores 
sight  to  the  blind.  Kindly  regards  Zaccheus  the 
publican.  Delivers  the  parable  of  the  servants 
entrusted  with  their  lord's  money.  Accepts  the 
kind  offices  of  Mary.  Makes  a  public  entry  into 
Jerusalem 252 

Chap.  XXIX. — Jesus  pronounces  a  curse  upon  the 
fig-tree.  Expels  the  profaners  of  the  temple. 
Asserts  his  divine  authority,  and  delivers  two 
parables 260 

Chap.  XXX. — The  blessed  Jesus  wisely  retorts  on 
the  Pharisees  and  Sadducees,  who  propound  an 
intricate  question  to  him.  Settles  the  most  im- 
portant point  of  the  law.  Enforces  his  mission 
and  doctrine;  and  foretells  the  judgment  that 
would  fall  upon  the  Pharisaical  tribe 271 

Chap.  XXXI. — Our  Saviour  commends  even  the 
smallest  act  proceeding  from  a  truly  benevolent 
motive.  Predicts  the  demolition  of  the  temple  at 
Jerusalem,  and  delivers  several  instructive  parables  285 

Chap.  XXXII. —  Our  blessed  Lord  is  anointed  by  a 
poor  but  pious  woman.  The  perfidious  Judas 
consents  to  betray  his  Master.  The  humble 
Jesus  washes  the  feet  of  his  disciples,  and  foretells 
that  disciple  who  was  to  betray  him  into  the 
hands  of  his  inveterate  enemies 306 

Chap.  XXXIII. — Jesus  institutes  the  sacrament  in 
commemoration  of  his  death  and  sufferings. 
Settles  a  dispute  which  arose  amongst  his  disciples. 
Predicts  Peter's  cowardice  in  denying  his  Mas- 
ter. Fortifies  his  disciples  against  the  approach- 
ing shock.  Foretells  Peter's  cowardice  again. 
Preaches  to  and  prays  with  his  disciples  for  the 
last  time.  Passionate  address  of  our  Lord  to  his 
Father  in  the  garden 317 

Chap.  XXXI V.— The  blessed  Redeemer  is  taken  by 
a  band  of  soldiers,  at  the  information  of  the  traitor 
Judas.  Heals  a  wound  given  to  the  High-priest's 
servant  by  Simon  Peter 343 

Chap.  XXXV. — Fulfilment  of  our  Lord's  prediction 
concerning  Peter 347 


Chap.  XXXVI.— The  Saviour  of  the  world  is  ar- 
raigned at  the  bar  of  the  Sanhedrim,  and  tried 
by  the  Jewish  Council 350 

Chap.  XXXVII. — Our  blessed  Saviour  is  carried 
before  the  Roman  Governor.  The  traitor  Judas 
becomes  his  own  executioner.  Pilate  publicly 
acquits  Jesus,  and  refers  his  case  to  the  decision 
of  Herod 353 

Chap.  XXXVIII.— The  Roman  Governor  for  want 
of  evidence  proposes  to  acquit  and  release  Jesus 
three  several  times,  but  at  length,  at  the  pressing 
instigation  of  the  inveterate  Jews,  he  condemns 
and  delivers  him  up 359 

Chap.  XXXIX.— The  innocent,  immaculate  Re- 
deemer is  led  forth  to  Mount  Calvary,  and  there 
ignominiously  crucified  between  two  notorious 
malefactors.  Reviled  by  the  spectators.  A  phe- 
nomenon appears  on  the  important  occasion. 
Our  Lord  addresses  his  friends  from  the  cross, 
and  gives  up  the  ghost 365 

Chap.  XL.— The  blessed  Jesus  is  treated  with  in- 
dignity after  his  crucifixion.  A  pious  person 
begs  liis  body  of  Pilate,  in  order  for  interment .  .  377 


Chap.  XLI. — Two  pious  women  go  to  view  the 
sepulchre  of  their  crucified  Lord  and  Saviour. 
An  awful  phenomenon  happens.  A  ministering 
spirit  descends.  The  Redeemer  bursts  the  chains 
of  death,  and  rises  from  the  confines  of  the  grave  381 

Chap.  XLII. — The  angel  addresses  the  pious 
women.  Two  disciples  go  to  the  sepulchre.  Jesus 
appears  to  Mary  Magdalene.  Afterwards  to  a 
company  of  women.  Peter  meets  his  Lord  and 
Master  after  his  resurrection    382 

Chap.  XLIII. — Jesus  appears  on  divers  occasions 
to  different  disciples.  Reproves  and  convinces 
Thomas  of  his  unbelief.  Shows  himself  to  a  great 
number  of  his  followers  in  Galilee 390 

Chap.  XLIV. — Our  Lord's  ascension.  The  resur- 
rection of  Jesus  asserted,  and  vindicated  against 
the  objections  of  unbelievers.  General  review  of 
the  life  and  doctrines  of  the  great  Redeemer  .  .  .  398 

Chap.  XLV.— rRemarks  on  the  peculiar  nature  of 
the  Christian  religion.  The  principles  it  incul- 
cates, and  its  fitness  to  render  men  holy  and 
humble  here,  and  happily  glorified  hereafter  .  .  .  407 


THE  LIYES  OF  THE  APOSTLES. 


St.  Peter 421 

St.  Paul 460 

St.  Andrew     505 

St.  James  the  Great . 509 

St.  John  the  Evangelist 511 

St.  Philip  516 

St.  Bartholomew 518 

St.  Matthew 520 

St.  Thomas 523 

St.  James  the  Less 526 

St.  Simon  the  Zealot    530 

St.  Jude 532 

St.  Mark 535 

St.  Luke 537 


St.  Barnabas 539 

St.  Stephen    544 

St.  Timothy    548 

Titus    550 

The  Virgin  Mary 552 

Mary,  the  Sister  of  Lazarus 568 

Joseph 570 

Joseph  op  Arimathea    . . : 571 

Nicodemus 572 

Nicholas 574 

John  Mark 576 

Clement 577 

i  Mary  Magdalene 579 


A  DISSERTATION   ON  THE   EVIDENCES   OP   CHRISTIANITY. 

Page  581.  , 


A  MEDITATION  ON  THE  LOYE  OF  CHRIST. 


Sect.  I. — The  Love  of  Christ  how  passing  know- 
ledge; how  free  of  us,  before  we  were 629 

Sect.  II. — How  free  of  us,  that  had  made  ourselves 
vile  and  miserable 630 

Sect.  III. — How  yet  free  of  us  that  were  professed 
enemies 631 

Sect.  IV. — The  wonderful  effects  of  the  Love  of 

Christ — His  Incarnation 632 

Sect.  V.— His  Love  in  his  Sufferings 633 

Sect.  VI. — His  Love  in  preparing  Heaven  for  us  .  634 
Sect.  VII. — His  Love  in  our  Redemption  from 
death  and  hell 636 


Sect.  VIII. — Christ's  Love  in  giving  us  the  Guard 
of  his  Angels 637 

Sect.  IX. — His  Love  in  giving  us  his  Holy  Spirit.  638 

Sect.  X. — Our  sense  and  improvement  of  Christ's 
Love  in  all  the  former  particulars ;  and  first,  in 
respect  of  the  inequality  of  the  Persons 639 

Sect.  XL — A  further  enforcement  of  our  Love  to 
Christ,  in  respect  of  our  Unworthiness  and  his 
Sufferings  and  prepared  Glory 640 

Sect.  XII. — The  improvement  of  our  Love  to 
Christ  for  the  mercy  of  his  Deliverance,  of  the 
Tuition  of  his  Angels,  of  the  powerful  working  of 
his  good  Spirit 642 


THE    CHRISTIAN. 


An  Exhortatory  Preface 647 

Sect.  I. — His  Disposition 649 

„     II.— His  Expense  of  the  Day 651 

„  III.— His  Recreations 653 

„    IV.— His  Meals 654 

„     V.— His  Night's  Rest 655 

„    VI.— His  Carriage 655 


Sect.  VII. — His  resolution  in  matter  of  Religion  .  658 

VIII.— His  Discourse 659 

IX.— His  Devotion 659 

X.— His  Sufferings 660 

XL— His' Conflicts 661 

XII.— His  Death 662 


THE    GOLDEN    GROYE. 


To  the  Reader 

Credenda;    or,  What  is.  to  be  Believed. 

A  Short  Catechism  for  the  Institution  of  Young 

Persons  in  the  Christian  Religion 

An  Exposition  op  the  Apostles'  Creed 

Agenda;    or,  Things  to  be  Done. 

The  Diary ;  or,  a  Rule  to  spend  each  Day  Reli- 
giously   

A  Manual  of  Daily  Prayers. 

Sunday    Decad  I 

Monday Decad  II 

Tuesday Decad  III 

Wednesday  ....  Decad  IV 

Thursday Decad  V.    .  .  . 

Friday Decad  VI 

Saturday Decad  VII.  .  . 

Fostulanda;    or,  Things  to  be  Prayed  for. 

A  form  of  Prayer  by  way  of  Paraphrase,  expound- 
ing the  Lord's  Prayer 


Litanies,  &c. 

For  all  Things  and  Persons 705 

For  Pardon  of  Sins 705 

For  Deliverance  from  Evils 706 

For  Gifts  and  Graces 708 

For  all  States  of  Men  and  Women,  especially  in 

the  Christian  Church 710 

A  Short  Prayer  to  be  said  every  Morning 712 

A  Prayer  for  the  Evening 713 

Sunday A  Prayer  against  Pride 714 

Monday A  Prayer  against  Covetousness .  716 

Tuesday A  Prayer  against  Lust 716 

Wednesday  ...  A  Prayer  against  Gluttony  and 

Drunkenness 717 

Thursday  ....  A  Prayer  against  Envy 718 

Friday A  Prayer   against   Wrath   and 

inordinate  Anger 719 

Saturday    ....  A  Prayer  against  Weariness  in 

Well-doing 720 

A  Prayer  to  be  said  by  a  Maiden  before  she  enter 

into  the  state  of  Marriage 721 

A  Prayer  for  a  holy  and  happy  Death 722 


THE  WORTHY  COMMUNICANT. 


Chap.  I. — Of  the  Nature,  Excellences,  Uses  and 
Intention  of  the  Holy  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's 
Supper. 
Sect.  I. — Of  the  several  apprehensions  of  men 

concerning  it 723 

Sect.  II. — What  it  is  which  we  receive  in  the 

Holy  Sacrament 726 

Sect.  III. — The  blessings  and  graces  of  the  Holy 
Sacrament  enumerated  and  proved  particu- 
larly   '. 737 

Sect.  IV. — Practical  conclusions  from  the  pre- 
ceding discourses 747 

Sect.  V. — Devotions  preparatory  to  this  mystery  755 

Chap.  II. — Of  our  General  Preparation  to  the 
Worthy  Reception  of  the  Blessed  Sacrament, 
and  the  Participation  of  the  Mysteries. 

Sect.  I. — Of  examination  of  ourselves  in  order  to 

the  Holy  Communion 758 

Sect.  II. — Of  the  examination  of  our  desires   .  .  762 

Sect.  III. — Of  our  examination  concerning  re- 
manent affections  to  sin 769 

Sect.  IV. — Of  examination  of  ourselves  in  the 
matter  of  our  prayers  in  order  to  a  Holy 
Communion , 774 

Sect.  V. — Of  preparatory  examination  of  our- 
selves in  some  other  instances 778 

Sect.  VI. — Devotions  to  be  used  upon  the  days 

of  our  examination  relative  to  that  duty  .  .  .  783 

Chap.  III. — Of  the  Necessary  Dispositions  to  the 
Blessed  Sacrament. 

Sect.  I. — Of  faith,  as  it  is  a  necessary  disposition 

to  the  Sacrament 788 

Sect.  II. — Of  actual  faith,  as  it  is  a  necessary 

disposition  to  the  Sacrament 789 

Sect.  III. — Of  the  proper  and  specific  work  of 

faith  in  the  Holy  Communion 794 

Sect.  IV. — Meditations  and  devotions  relative  to 
this  preparatory  grace,  to  be  used  in  the 
days  of  preparation,  or  at  any  time  of  spiri- 
tual communion 804 

Chap.  IV. — Of  Charity  preparatory  to  the  Blessed 
Sacrament. 

Skct.  I.  • 806 

Sect.  II. — Of  doing  good  to  our  neighbour  .  .  .  808 


Sect.  III. — Of  speaking  good  of  our  neighbours .  809 
Sect.  IV. — Forgiveness  of  injuries  a  necessary 

part  of  preparation  to  the  Holy  Sacrament  .  811 
Sect.'  V. — Devotions  relative  to  the  grace  of 
charity,  to  be  used  by  way  of  exercise  and 
preparation  to  the  Divine  mysteries,  in  any 
time  or  part  of  our  life,  but  especially  before 
and  at  the  Communion 819 

Chap.V. — Of  Repentance  preparatory  to  the  Blessed 
Sacrament. 

Sect.  1 822 

Sect.  II. — The  necessity  of  repentance  in  order 

to  the  Holy  Sacrament 824 

Sect.  III. — What  actions  of  repentance  are 
specially  required  in  our  preparations  to  the 
Holy  Sacrament 827 

Sect.  IV. — How  far  we  must  have  proceeded  in 
our  general  repentance  and  emendation  of 
our  lives  before  we  communicate 838 

Sect.  V. — Penitential  soliloquies,  ejaculations, 
exercises,  and  preparatory  prayers,  to  be 
used  in  all  the  days  of  preparation  to  the 
Holy  Sacrament 854 

Chap.  VI. — Of  our  Actual  Preparation  to  the  Re- 
ception of  the  Blessed  Sacrament. 

Sect.  I ,  .  857 

Sect.  II. — Rules  for  examination  of  our  con- 
sciences against  the  day  of  our  Communion.  859 

Sect.  III. — Of  an  actual  supply  to  be  made  of 
such  actions  and  degrees  -of  good  as  are 
wanting  against  a  Communion-day 863 

Sect.  IV. — Devotions  to  be  used  upon  the  morn- 
ing of  the  Communion , 868 

Chap.  VII. — Of  our  Comportment  after  receiving 
the  Blessed  Sacrament. 

Sect.  I. — Of  the  circumstances  and  manner  of 

reception  of  the  Divine  mysteries 871 

Sect.  II. — Acts  of  virtues  and  graces  relative  to 
the  mystery,  to  be  used  before  or  at  the 
celebration  of  the  Divine  Sacrament 879 

Sect.  III. — An  advice  concerning  him  who  only 

communicates  spiritually 889 


INTRODUCTION. 


In  proportion  to  the  reverence  which  we  entertain  for  religion  in  general,  Will  •  be 
our  anxiety  to  obtain  clear  and  definite  accounts  of  its  heavenly  Author.  When 
the  utmost  that  is  known  concerns  the  being  of  a  God,  honest  and  elevated  minds 
have  never  ceased  to  strive,  according  to  the  best  of  their  ability,  to  gain  clearer 
notions  of  his  attributes  and  his  will.  They  felt  that  much  of  their  happiness,  and 
even  of  their  security,  was  depending  upon  their  enlarging  knowledge  of  Him  wh©, 
according  to  the  measure  of  their  strength,  was  the  recognized  source  of  light  and 
power. 

Who  is  He  ?  what  is  He  ?  and  whence  does  He  come  ?  are  questions  naturally 
proposed,  the  instant  we  are  informed  of  some  one  who  lays  claim  to  the  privilege 
of  instructing  mankind  in  some  extraordinary  manner.  But  while  this  is  the  case 
even  in  matters  of  worldly  interest,  the  curiosity  or  anxiety  excited  is  necessarily 
of  a  deeper  kind,  when  the  new  teacher  asserts  a  divine  commission,  and  proclaims 
aloud  that  he  is  instructed  to  declare  what  the  Almighty  has  prepared  for  the  sal- 
vation of  his  people. 

On  the  first  mention  of  the  Gospel  to  those  who  were  neither  under  the  bondage 
of  unconquerable  prejudice,  nor  ready,  with  a  fanatical  haste,  to  embrace  any  novel 
system  that  might  tempt  their  imagination,  the  inquiry  as  to  the  person  and  history 
of  Christ  would  precede  all  others.  To  answer  the  questions  thus  suggested  was 
the  main  purpose  of  each  of  the  narratives  furnished  us  by  the  blessed  Evange- 
lists. St.  Luke  has  spoken  for  one  and  all  in  the  brief  but  exquisite  introduction 
to  his  own  Gospel.  He  wrote,  that  the  current  reports  respecting  Jesus  might  be 
more  certainly  understood,  and  that  a  clearer  conception  might  be  formed  of  the 
nature  of  his  works  and  doctrine.  That  this  was  the  object  also  of  the  other 
Evangelists  is  evident  from  the  character  of  their  narrations ;   and  to  the  present 


M48837 


2  INTRODUCTION. 

day,  an  earnest-minded  inquirer,  desirous  of  learning  what  evidence  there  is  for 
the  Gospel,  and  what  he  is  to  expect  from  becoming  a  follower  of  Christ,  directs 
his  earliest  attention  to  those  divine  histories  provided,  at  the  commencement 
of  the  evangelical  dispensation,  for  the  establishment  of  our  faith. 

It  is  utterly  impossible  that  any  effort  or  ingenuity  of  the  human  mind,  how- 
ever sanctified  or  enlightened,  should  supersede  the  work  of  the  heavenly  Spirit  in 
■  tiiia':  •supply :-."of  authoritative  and  inspired  histories.  But  these  histories  may  be 
employed  in  more  than  one  way  to  the  edification  of  our  souls.  From  the  earliest 
ages,  wise  and  holy  men  have  selected  their  main  points,  and  discoursed  on  them 
in  order.  They  have  treated  them  as  four  independent  narratives  ;  as  four  separate 
volumes  of  history,  furnishing  each  its  quota  of  most  valuable  materials,  forming, 
when  put  together,  a  document  of  the  completest  kind ;  but  not  to  be  considered 
so  sufficient  in  each  division,  that  any  part  bestowed  by  the  bounty  of  the  blessed 
Spirit  might  be  safely  dispensed  with  or  left  out  of  recollection. 

With  the  most  devout  feeling,  therefore,  of  the  infinite  value  of  the  original  nar- 
rative, and  of  the  importance  of  leading  men  to  contemplate  it  in  its  length  and 
breadth,  pious  divines  have,  from  time  to  time,  employed  themselves  in  arranging 
the  facts  and  discourses  set  forth  in  the  four  Gospels,  and  so  showing  their  sequence 
and  connection,  that  the  life  of  Christ,  as  far  as  it  can  be  made  the  subject  of  his- 
tory, might  be  exhibited  to  the  mind  without  any  appearance  of  complexity. 

It  is  evident  that  the  greatest  care  is  required  in  a  work  of  this  kind,  that  noth- 
ing human  may  obtrude  itself  under  the  character  of  divine.  This  is  to  be  observed, 
not  merely  in  regard  to  facts,  but  in  respect  also  to  comments  and  reflections,  the 
near  association  of  the  comment  with  the  text  having  often  been  the  cause  of  giving 
undue  authority  to  the  former,  while  the  latter  was  allowed  to  retain  but  a  titular 
claim  to  the  homage  of  the  reader. 

We  may  hence  conclude  that  nothing  but  the  most  reverential  feeling  of  the 
sacredness  of  the  subject  can  secure  a  writer  of  the  Life  of  Christ  from  falling  into 
dangers  not  to  be  lightly  regarded.  But  with  this  caution,  such  a  work  may  be 
rendered  eminently  edifying  and  interesting.  The- course  of  our  Lord's  ministry 
is  one  glorious  track  of  light ;  but  it  is  broader  and  of  a  deeper  splendour  in  some 


INTRODUCTION.  3 

places  than  in  others ;  and  by  its  heavenly  and  mysterious  nature  it  must  often 
be  invisible  to  the  understanding  not  practised  in  spiritual  meditation.  A  mind 
long  familiarized  to  the  language  of  the  Saviour,  and  experienced  in  the  interpre- 
tation of  those  signs  and  parables  which  are  employed  in  the  Gospel,  as  a  peculiar 
medium  of  the  profoundest  truth,  will  speak  of  these  things  to  others  so  as  to  open 
their  meaning,  and  conduct  the  thoughts,  step  by  step,  along  the  paths  of  divine 
mystery,  till  the  object  of  the  whole  is  more  clearly  seen,  and  the  heart  itself  ip 
prepared  to  embrace  the  history  in  its  entire  compass. 

An  attentive  perusal  of  the  present  volume  will  afford  many  illustrations  of  these 
remarks.  Knowing  that  the  substance  of  the  narrative  is  drawn  from  sources  of 
indisputable  authority,  the  reader  can  have  no  anxiety  respecting  the  truth  of  the 
facts  recorded.  He  will,  therefore,  be  able  to  resign  himself  altogether  to  the 
gracious  influence  which  such  a  history  is  calculated  to  exercise  on  the  mind. 
Brought  to  contemplate  his  Lord  from  the  moment  when  it  was  announced,  "  Unto 
you  is  born  this  day,  in  the  city  of  David,  a  Saviour,  which  is  Christ  the  Lord,"  to 
that  when  he  pronounced  those  awful  words,  "  It  is  finished,"  he  learns  what  it  is 
to  tremble  and  rejoice  at  the  recital  of  the  method  employed  for  his  salvation. 
Nor  resting  here,  the  narrative  leads  him  on  from  the  scene  of  conflict,  where  Christ 
triumphed  over  the  grave,  to  those  wonderful  manifestations  of  the  power  which 
had  wrought  in  his  resurrection,  and  which  exhibited  itself,  at  last,  in  the  fulness 
of  its  strength  and  splendour,  when  Jesus  visibly  ascended  into  heaven,  leading 
captivity  captive. 

The  assistance  which  the  reader  will  derive  from  a  well-arranged  narrative  of 
these  sublime  events  will  be  found  of  importance,  not  only  as  exciting  attention 
to  facts,  otherwise  less  noticed,  but  as  habituating  him,  in  perusing  the  divine 
originals,  to  arrange  and  classify  the  several  portions  of  the  history  for  himself. 
When  this  ability  is  acquired,  the  mind  will  have  a  readier  command  over  the 
materials  of  reflection,  and  the  several  arguments  on  which  the  proof  of  heavenly 
truth  is  founded  will  be  seen  with  greater  distinctness,  and  appreciated  with  a  more 
practical  feeling  of  their  strength  and  value. 

"I  am  the  way,  and  the  truth,  and  the  life :  no  man  cometh  unto  the  Father, 


4  INTRODUCTION. 

but  by  me."  Of  the  history  of  a  being  like  this  can  we  ever  form  notions  too  high 
or  fervent  ?  or  can  it  be  possible  for  us  to  be  too  anxious  to  familiarize  it  to  our 
hearts,  and  so  to  grasp  it  on  all  sides,  that  no  agitation  of  mind  or  solicitation  of 
outward  objects  may  ever  separate  it  from  our  thoughts  ?  The  writer  of  these  brief 
remarks  earnestly  commends  the  subject  to  the  reader's  best  attention,  reminding 
him  that,  as  Jesus  has  said,  "No  man  cometh  unto  me,  except  the  Father  which 
hath  sent  me  draw  him,"  so  the  happiest  and  most  hopeful  feeling  he  can  cherish 
in  his  heart  is  that  which  inclines  him,  more  and  more,  to  seek  acquaintance  with 
Christ ;  to  dwell  upon  his  words  with  increasing  seriousness ;  and  to  follow  him  in 
his  works  and  varied  instances  of  exemplary  holiness  with  more  devoted  thankful- 
ness, and  a  livelier  desire  to  exhibit  the  power  of  the  grace  which  he  bestows  upon 
believers. 

HENET  STEBBING. 

St.  James's  Chapel. 


COLLECT. 

0  God,  whose  blessed  Son  was  manifested  that  he  might  destroy  the  works  of  the  devil, 
and  malce  us  the  sons  of  God,  and  heirs  of  eternal  life :  Grant  us,  we  beseech  thee,  that 
having  this  hope,  we  may  purify  ourselves,  even  as  he  is  pure  ;  that  when  he  shall  appear 
again,  with  power  and  great  glory,  we  may  be  made  like  unto  him  in  his  eternal  and 
glorious  kingdom;  where  with  thee,  0  Father,  and  thee,  0  Holy  Ghost,  he  liveth  and 
reigneth,  ever  one  God,  world  without  end.     Amen. 


THE    LIFE 

OF 

OUR    LORD    AND     SAVIOUR 
JESUS    CHRIST. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Presage  of  the  Birth  of  Christ.     Prediction  of  the  Birth  of  John  the  Baptist.     Salutation  of  the  blessed 
Virgin  by  the  Angel.     Visitation  of  the  Virgin  Mary  to  Elizabeth.     Birth  of  the  Baptist. 


HISTORY,  as  it  refers  merely  to 
human  events,  is  a  pleasing  and 
instructing  subject ;  but  that  which 
relates  to  our  immortal  interest  cer- 
tainly claims  our  most  serious  regard. 

No  event  that  ever  did,  or,  per- 
haps, ever  will  happen,  can  more 
remarkably  display  the  wisdom  and 
power  of  the  Great  Jehovah  than 
the  glorious  manner  in  which  he 
brought  life  and  immortality  to  light 
by  the  gospel  of  his  only  Son,  mani- 
fested in  the  flesh. 

The  mind  of  man  cannot  be  more 
delightfully  employed  than  in  the 
contemplation  of  the  wisdom  and 
goodness  of  the  Omnipotent  Creator 
of  the  universe,  who,  by  the  least  sus- 
pected means,  and  weakest  instru- 
ments, confirmed  and  established 
that  glorious  gospel  on  which  de- 


pend all  the  Christian's  hope  of 
eternal  salvation. 

Notwithstanding  the  strength  and 
number  of  his  enemies,  the  church  of 
Christ  grew,  from  the  most  inconsi- 
derable beginnings,  to  an  immense 
fabric  or  building  in  the  Lord ;  nor 
shall  the  united  efforts  of  earth  and 
hell  be  able  to  prevail  against  it.  As 
it  was  planted,  so  it  was  reared  by 
an  Almighty  hand,  which,  like  the 
careful  husbandman,  pruned  and 
cultivated  each  tender  sprig  till  it 
arrived  at  full  perfection,  or,  to  use 
the  words  of  our  Lord,  "  The  least 
of  all  seeds  grew  up,  and  waxed  a 
great  tree,  and  spread  out  its 
branches,  and  filled  the  earth." 

Thus  prevailed  eternal  Truth;  nor 
could  the  inveterate  Jews,  or  super- 
stitious heathens,  resist  its  progress. 


0 


THE  LIFE  OF  OUR 


though  Herod  and  Pontius  Pilate, 
with  the  Gentiles  and  people  of  Is- 
rael, "  gathered  themselves  together 
against  the  Lord,  and  against  his 
Anointed  j"  for  the  doctrine  of  God 
confounded  the  wisdom  of  the  for- 
mer, and  overcame  the  folly  of  the 
latter. 

If  we  survey  the  works  of  a  stu- 
pendous Creator,  we  shall  find  that 
few  arrived  at  perfection  at  once. 
This  observation  is  amply  confirmed 
by  the  various  productions  in  the 
natural,  and  changes  in  the  moral 
world.  The  Supreme  Being,  who 
conducts  all  his  operations  accord- 
ing to  his  infinite  wisdom,  appears 
to  have  retained  the  same  maxim  in 
the  regulating  of  his  kindest  design 
to  the  sons  of  men.  The  Divine 
mind  and  will  were  not  revealed  to 
mankind,  at  first,  in  their  clearest 
evidence  and  fullest  splendour.  The 
dawn,  in  a  spiritual  as  well  as  in  a 
natural  sense,  preceded  the  meri- 
dian glory;  the  former  revelation 
was  but  a  type  or  earnest  of  the 
latter,  and,  in  comparison  with  it, 
intricate  and  mysterious. 

The  all-gracious  God,  as  it  seemed 
best  to  his  unerring  wisdom,  was 
pleased,  by  degrees,  to  open  and  un- 
fold his  glorious  councils;  and  man, 
by  degrees,  attained  to  the  know- 
ledge of  the  great  plan  of  salvation, 
and  the  means  used  by  its  great 
Author  to  promote  and  establish  it. 


Some  time  before  the  incarnation 
of  the  blessed  Jesus  an  opinion  pre- 
vailed, among  the  pious  part  of  the 
Jews,  that  the  Great  Jehovah  would 
condescend  to  favour  them  with  a 
clearer  revelation  of  his  mind  and 
will,  by  the  mission  of  some  eminent 
person  qualified  from  above  to  in- 
struct them  in  the  same.  This  opi- 
nion was  founded  on  the  predictions 
of  the  ancient  prophets,  who  had  de- 
scribed, with  the  utmost  beauty  and 
clearness,  the  person,  character,  and 
glory  of  the  Messiah,  appointed  by 
God,  in  his  own  time,  to  declare  his 
eternal  counsels  to  mankind. 

Relying  on  the  fulfilment  of  these 
prophecies,  the  devout  persons  a- 
mong  the  Jews  imagined  the  time 
appointed  by  God  at  hand,  and  that 
the  promised  Messiah  would  shortly 
make  his  appearance,  and  therefore 
are  said  to  have  "  waited  night  and 
day  for  the  consolation  of  Israel." 
These  people,  at  that  time  grievously 
oppressed  by  the  Roman  power,  and 
consequently  anxious  of  regaining 
their  liberty,  as  well  as  revenging 
themselves  on  their  tyrannical  op- 
pressors, waited  for  the  accomplish- 
ment of  the  prophecies  with  the  most 
solicitous  desire.  But  this  opinion 
of  the  approach  of  a  general  Deli- 
verer extended  much  further  than 
the  country  of  the  Jews;  for,  through 
their  connexions  with  so  many  coun- 
tries, their  disputes  with  the  learned 


LORD  AND  SAVIOUR  JESUS  CHRIST. 


men  among  the  heathens,  and  the 
translation  of  the  Old  Testament 
into  a  language  now  almost  general, 
their  religion  greatly  prevailed  in 
the  east;  and,  consequently,  their 
opinion,  that  a  prince  would  appear 
in  the  kingdom  of  Judea,  who  would 
dispel  the  mists  of  ignorance, 
deliver  the  Jews  from  the  Roman 
yoke,  and  spread  his  dominion  from 
one  end  of  the  world  to  the  other. 

While  the  eastern  world  was 
fraught  with  these  sanguine  hopes, 
the  very  angel  who  had  appeared  to 
Daniel  the  prophet  with  a  certain 
information  as  to  the  period  of  the 
Messiah's  coming,  as  well  as  his  trans- 
actions in  this  lower  world  was  sent 
to  Zacharias,  while  he  was  executing 
his  office  before  God,  in  the  order 
of  his  course  (which  was  to  burn  in- 
cense when  he  went  into  the  temple 
of  the  Lord),  to  foretell  that  a  child 
should  spring  from  him  and  his  wife 
Elizabeth,  though  they  were  strick- 
en in  years,  who  should  be  endowed 
with  extraordinary  gifts  from  heaven, 
and  honoured  with  being  the  fore- 
runner of  the  Saviour  of  the  world. 

Zacharias,  when  he  saw  the  angel, 
though  he  knew  him  to  be  of  hea- 
venly extraction,  could  not  judge 
the  subject  of  his  mission,  and  there- 
fore discovered  a  mixture  of  fear  and 
surprise  ;  but  the  aerial  ambassador 
cheered hisdesponding  soul  with  this 
kind  address :  "  Fear  not,  Zacharias, 


for  thy  prayer  is  heard;  and  thy  wife 
Elizabeth  shall"  bear  thee  a  son,  and 
thou  shaft  call  his  name  John."  That 
he  waited  day  and  night  for  the  con- 
solation of  Israel  he  well  knew,  which 
is  all  we  can  understand  by  his  prayer 
being  heard ;  for  it  was  unnatural 
for  him  to  think  that  he  and  his  wife 
Elizabeth,  who  were  advanced  in 
years,  should  have  a  son ;  nay,  he 
intimates  his  doubts  concerning  it  in 
these  words  :  "  Whereby  shall  I 
know  this?  for  I  am  an  old  man, 
and  my  wife  well  stricken  in  years." 
Besides,  he  was  a  priest  of  the  course 
of  Abiah,  whose  particular  office  was 
to  pray  in  behalf  of  the  people  for 
public  and  national  blessings;  so 
that  it  is  very  reasonable  to  think 
that  on  all  occasions  of  public  wor- 
ship he  prayed  most  earnestly  for 
the  accomplishment  of  the  prophe- 
cies relative  to  the  appearance  of 
the  long-expected  Messiah,  who  was 
promised  as  a. general  blessing  to 
all  the  nations  of  the  earth. 

That  this  was  the  great  subject  of 
his  prayer  appears  from  the  decla- 
ration of  the  angel  Gabriel :  The 
prayer  thou  hast  directed  with  since- 
rity to  an  Almighty  ear,  concerning 
the  coming  of  the  Messiah,  "  is 
heard ;  and  behold  thy  wife  Eliza- 
beth shall  bear  thee  a  son,"  who  shall 
prepare  the  way  for  the  mighty 
Redeemer  of  Israel.  The  old  priest, 
indeed,  was  as  much  astonished  at 


THE  LIFE  OF  OUR 


the  subject  of  the  mission  as  he  was 
at  the  appearance  of  the  messenger ; 
and  esteeming  it  impossible  that  his 
wife,  thus  advanced  in  years,  should 
conceive  a  son,  weakly  demanded  a 
sign,  to  confirm  his  belief  in  the  ful- 
filment of  the  promise,  though  he 
knew  the  authority  of  the  angel  was 
derived  from  the  God  of  Truth.  But 
as  it  is  the  lot  of  humanity  to  err, 
Zacharias  had,  at  that  moment,  for- 
got that  nothing  was  impossible  to 
Omnipotence,  as  well  as  that  it  was 
not  the  first  time  that  the  aged  were 
caused  to  conceive,  and  bear  children . 
The  least  reflection  would  have  re- 
minded him  that  Sarah  conceived 
and  bare  Isaac,  when  she  was  far  ad- 
vanced in  years;  and  that  Samuel 
was  born  of  a  woman  who  had  been 
long  reputed,  and  even  called  barren. 
His  curiosity  was,  indeed,  grati- 
fied, but  in  a  manner  that  carried 
with  it  at  once  a  confirmation  of  the 
promise  and  a  punishment  for  his 
unbelief.  As  he  had  verbally  tes- 
tified his  doubt  of  the  fulfilment  of 
the  prediction  of  the  angel,  he  was 
punished  with  the  loss  of  his  speech, 
which  was  to  continue  to  the  very 
day  in  which  the  prediction  should 
be  accomplished ;  "  Behold,  thou 
shalt  be  dumb,  and  not  able  to  speak 
until  the  day  that  those  things  shall 
be  performed,  because  thou  believest 
not  my  words  ;  which  shall  be  ful- 
filled in  their  season." 


Zacharias  soon  received  an  awful 
testimony  of  the  divinity  of  the  mis- 
sion of  Gabriel,  who  was  no  sooner 
departed  than  he  was  struck  dumb ; 
for  when  he  came  to  pray  in  the 
course  of  his  office,  during  the  obla- 
tion of  his  incense,  he  could  not 
utter  a  word,  and  was  under  the 
necessity  of  making  signs  to  the 
people,  that  an  angel  had  appeared 
unto  him  in  the  temple,  and  that  he 
was  deprived  of  the  faculty  of  speech, 
as  a  punishment  for  his  doubting 
the  fulfilment  of  an  event  which  he 
had  been  foretold  concerning  him. 

Soon  after  Zacharias  departed  to 
his  own  house  (the  days  of  his  mi- 
nistration being  accomplished),  his 
wife  Elizabeth,  according  to  the  pre- 
diction of  the  angel,  conceived;  and 
retired  into  a  private  place,  where 
she  lived  five  months  in  the  uninter- 
rupted exercises  of  piety,  devotion, 
and  contemplation  on  the  mysterious 
providences  of  the  Almighty,  and  his 
amazing  goodness  to  the  sinful  chil- 
dren of  men. 

When  Elizabeth  was  advanced  six 
months  in  her  pregnancy,  the  same 
heavenly  ambassador  wras  sent  to  a 
poor  virgin,  called  Mary,  who  lived 
in  obscurity  in  the  city  of  Nazareth, 
under  the  care  of  Joseph,  to  whom 
she  was  espoused.  This  man  and 
woman  were  both  lineally  de- 
scended from  the  illustrious  house 
of  David,  from  whose  loins  it  was 


LORD  AND  SAVIOUR  JESUS  CHRIST. 


9 


foretold  the  great  Messiah  should 
spring. 

This  virgin,  being  ordained  by  the 
Most  High  to  be  the  mother  of  the 
great  Saviour  of  the  world,  was  sa- 
luted by  the  angel  in  the  most  re- 
spectful terms  :  "  Hail !  thou  that 
art  highly  favoured,  the  Lord  is  with 
thee !  Blessed  art  thou  among 
women  !"  Such  an  address,  from 
so  exalted  a  being,  greatly  alarmed 
the  meek  and  humble  virgin  :  but  to 
allay  her  fear,  and  encourage  her 
heart,  the  angel  related,  in  most 
rapturous  terms,  the  subject  of  his 
embassy;  which  was  to  assure  her 
that  she  was  chosen  by  God  to  the 
greatest  honour  which  could  be  con- 
ferred on  a  mortal,  and  which  would 
perpetuate  her  memory ;  an  honour 
no  less  than  that  of  being  mother  of 
the  promised  and  longexpected  Mes- 
siah, who  upon  earth  should  be  called 
Jesus,  because  he  should  save  his 
people  from  their  sins,  of  the  Re- 
storer of  human  nature,  and  the  pro- 
curing cause  of  eternal  bliss  to  miser- 
able sinners,  who  had  forfeited  the 
favour,  and  incurred  the  resentment 
of  a  just  and  offended  God  :  but  that 
in  heaven  this  Divine  Person  was 
considered  as  the  Son  of  the  Most 
Hi  gh  God :  to  whom  should  be  given, 
by  his  Almighty  Father,  the  throne  of 
David,  his  earthly  father,  on  which 
he  should  preside:  and  which,  being 
the  whole  church  of  Christ,  the  house 


of  Jacob,  the  spiritual  Israel,  or  the 
kingdom  of  the  Messiah,  should 
continue  for  ever  and  ever. 

The  astonished  virgin,  unmindful 
likewise  that  Isaiah  had  long  before 
prophesied  "that  a  virgin  should 
conceive  and  bear  a  son,"  thought 
her  virginity  an  insurmountable  bar- 
rier to  the  fulfilment  of  the  pro- 
phecy, more  especially  as  such  an 
event  had  never  before  happened 
since  the  creation  of  the  world :  and 
therefore  required  of  the  angel  an 
explanation  of  the  manner  in  which 
such  a  wonderful  circumstance  could 
be  effected. 

This  request  of  the  Virgin  Mary 
by  no  means  implies  that  she  did  not 
remember  that  with  God  all  things 
were  possible,  but  only  serves  to 
prove  the  weakness  of  her  apprehen- 
sion on  the  one  hand,  or  her  diffi- 
dence and  sense  of  her  own  unwor- 
thiness  on  the  other. 

The  angel,  therefore,  perceiving 
the  goodness  of  her  disposition,  not- 
withstanding some  little  appearance 
of  human  weakness,  and  shortness 
of  sight,  vouchsafed  an  immediate 
answer  to  her  inquiry  :  "  The  Holy 
Ghost  shall  come  upon  thee,  and 
the  power  of  the  Highest  shall  cover 
thee  :"  or,  in  other  words,  this  mira- 
culous event  shall  be  brought  about 
by  the  aid  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and 
wonderful  exertion  of  the  power  o* 
the  Most  High.     "  As  thy  concep- 


10 


THE  LIFE  OF  OUR 


tion  is  effected  by  the  immediate  in- 
terposition of  the  Holy  Spirit,  there- 
fore that  holy  thing  which  shall  be 
born  of  thee  shall  be  called  the  Son 
of  God."  To  confirm  her  faith  in 
the  glorious  message,  the  heavenly 
messenger  observed  to  her,  that  her 
cousin  Elizabeth,  notwithstanding 
her  advanced  years,  and  reputed 
barrenness,  was  above  six  months 
pregnant;  assigning  this  incontes- 
table argument  for  the  miraculous 
incident,  "  For  with  God  nothing 
shall  be  impossible." 

This  reply  not  only  removed  all 
her  doubts  and  fears,  but  filled  her 
with  inexpressible  joy,  so  that  she 
even  anticipated  the  promised  feli- 
city ;  for  she,  with  the  rest  of  the 
daughters  of  Jacob,  had  long  in- 
dulged a  hope  of  being  selected  by 
God  to  be  the  honoured  mother 
of  the  Saviour  of  Israel :  and  there- 
fore, on  her  being  assured  that  such 
great  happiness  was  destined  her  by 
the  heavenly  Disposer  of  all  events, 
she  thus  expressed  her  reliance  on 
the  fulfilment  of  the  Divine  pro- 
mise, and  her  perfect  acquiescence 
in  the  pleasure  of  the  Almighty : 
"  Behold  the  handmaid  of  the  Lord, 
be  it  unto  me  according  to  thy 
word." 

The  angel  had  no  sooner  departed, 
than  Mary  set  out  for  the  moun- 
tainous country  of  Judea,  though  at 
a  very  remote  distance  from  Naza- 


reth, in  order  to  rejoice  with  her 
cousin  Elizabeth  in  the  joyful  news 
she  had  received  from  the  angel  con- 
cerning her.  The  rapture  and  de- 
light which  filled  the  minds  of  Mary, 
Joseph  her  husband,  and  Elizabeth, 
on  the  occasion  of  this  salutation, 
can  alone  be  expressed  by  the  affect- 
ing description  recorded  by  the 
evangelist  Luke,  who  is  peculiar  for 
the  beauty  of  his  style,  and  elegance 
of  his  expression. 

That  evangelist  writes,  that  the 
salutation  of  Mary  had  such  an  effect 
upon  Elizabeth,  that,  on  her  hearing 
of  the  miraculous  event  which  had 
befallen  the  Virgin,  the  babe  leaped 
within  her,  and  that  being  inspired 
with  a  holy  delight  on  the  approach- 
ing prospect  of  the  nativity  of  our 
Saviour,  she  exclaimed  with  rapture, 
"And  whence  is  this  to  me,  that 
the  mother  of  my  Lord  should  come 
tome?"  Nor  did  her  ecstasy  cease 
with  this  token  of  humility  and  joy 
on  the  important  event ;  in  the  ar- 
dour of  which  she  evinced  that  pro- 
phetic influence,  which,  while  it 
amazed  the  blessed  Virgin,  could  not 
fail  of  establishing  her  belief  in  what 
the  angel  had  foretold,  for  she  re- 
peated the  very  words  expressed  by 
the  angel  in  the  salutation  of  the 
holy  Virgin,  "  Blessed  art  thou 
among  women  !'*  together  with  a 
quotation  from  the  Psalms,  and 
"  Blessed  is  the  fruit  of  thy  womb  \" 


LORD  AND  SAVIOUR  JESUS  CHRIST. 


11 


For  as  Mary  conceived  the  seed 
longproroised,  and  earnestly  desired, 
the  seed  in  whom  all  the  nations  of 
the  earth  were  to  be  blessed,  he 
could  not  but  be  blessed  himself,  ac- 
cording to  the  words  of  the  Psalm- 
ist :  "  His  name  shall  continue  as 
long  as  the  sun,  and  men  shall  be 
blessed  in  him  :  all  nations  shall  call 
him  Blessed."  The  happy  Virgin, 
catching  the  holy  flame  from  the 
aged  Elizabeth,  broke  out  into  an 
humble  acknowledgment  of  her  un- 
worthiness,  and  the  wonderful  grace 
of  the  Almighty,  in  appointing  her  to 
the  exalted  honour  of  bearing  the 
Redeemer  of  Israel,  as  expressed  in 
those  well-known  words,  "My  soul 
doth  magnify  the  Lord,"  &c. 

Having  thus  confirmed  herself,  by 
this  visit,  in  the  belief  of  the  predic- 
tion of  the  angel  Gabriel,  when  the 
period  of  Elizabeth's  pregnancy  ap- 
proached, she  returned  to  Nazareth, 
having  resided  in  Judea  about  three 
months. 

Soon  after  the  departure  of  Mary, 
Elizabeth  brought  forth  her  son,  the 
appointed  harbinger  of  the  King  of 
Glory  ;  and  on  the  eighth  day  after 
his  birth,  according  to  the  Judaical 
custom,  he  was  circumcised,  and 
called  according  to  the  appointment 
of  the  angel,  John,  alluding,  in  the 
Hebrew  tongue,  to  the  gracious  dis- 
play of  the  wisdom  and  goodness 
God  was  about  to  manifest  to  the 


world,  by  the  spreading  of  the  gos- 
pel of  his  Son,  of  whom  this  John 
was  the  appointed  forerunner. 

This  promise  being  thus  fulfilled, 
the  aged  priest  was  restored  to  his 
speech,  and  immediately  broke  out 
into  praise  and  rapture  at  the  mar- 
vellous works  of  God,  in  strains 
which  astonished  all  around  him. 

This  most  surprising  event  greatly 
alarmed  the  people  of  the  adjacent 
country,  who  were  divided  in  their 
opinions  concerning  a  child  whose 
birth  was  attended  with  so  many  ex- 
traordinary circumstances.  Indeed, 
these  incidents  were  worthy  of  gene- 
ral admiration  :  that  he  who  was  to 
be  the  forerunner  of  the  mighty  Sa- 
viour of  Israel,  should  not  make  his 
entrance  on  life  in  an  obscure  and 
common  manner,  but  with  particular 
tokens  of  the  favour  of  heaven,  in 
order  to  attract  the  observation  of 
his  countrymen,  and  excite  their  at- 
tention to  that  ministry  which  he  was 
called  to  by  God,  even  the  prepara- 
tion of  the  people  for  the  reception 
of  the  Messiah,  who  was  shortly  to 
appear. 

It  is  observable  that  the  Baptist, 
from  his  infancy,  displayed  great 
qualities,  both  of  mind  and  body ; 
for  such  was  his  strength  of  consti- 
tution, through  the  blessing  of  the 
God  of  Nature,  that  he  lived  till 
near  the  thirtieth  year  of  his  age, 
when  his  public  ministry  began,  in 


12 


THE  LIFE  OF  OUK 


the  mountains  and  desert  country  of 
Judea,  bereft  of  almost  all  the  com- 
forts of  life.  But  at  length  the  pro- 
phecy of  the  good  old  Zacharias,  re- 
lating to  his  future  elevation,  was 
literally  fulfilled  :  "Thou,  O  child, 
shalt  be  called  the  Prophet  of  the 
Highest;  for  thou  shalt  go  before 
the  face  of  the  Lord,  to  prepare  his 
ways,  to  give  knowledge  of  salvation 
to  his  people,  by  the  remission  of 
their  sins,  through  the  tender  mercies 
of  our  God,  whereby  the  day-spring 
from  on  high  hath  visited  us,  to  give 
light  to  them  that  sit  in  darkness, 
and  in  the  shadow  of  death,  to  guide 
our  feet  in  the  way  of  peace." 

As  Joseph  had  abstained  from  all 
matrimonial  intercourse  with  his 
wife,  he  was  not  a  little  alarmed 
when,  shortly  after  her  return  to  Na- 
zareth, she  discovered  evident  signs 
of  pregnancy ;  nay,  so  far  was  he 
wrought  on  by  circumstances,  that 
he  absolutely  resolved  on  a  dissolu- 
tion of  the  marriage  ;  but  previous 
to  such  a  rigorous  procedure,  ques- 
tioning her  concerning  the  same, 
she,  to  wipe  off  so  foul  an  aspersion, 
minutely  related  to  him  the  parti- 
culars of  the  vision  from  the  angel, 
and  the  extraordinary  event  that 
had  befallen  Zacharias  and  her 
cousin  Elizabeth. 

Notwithstanding  this  ingenious 
declaration,  Joseph's  suspicions  con- 
tinued, and  suggested  to  him  that 


this  might  be  a  device,  concerted 
by  the  friends  of  Mary,  to  exempt 
her  from  that  disgrace  which  must 
attend  a  divorce  on  such  a  pretence ; 
however,  he  resolved  to  execute  his 
purpose  as  privately  as  possible, 
without  assigning  a  cause  for  the 
same,  which,  under  their  constitu- 
tion, would  have  subjected  her  to 
the  penalty  of  death. 

But,  on  cooler  reflection,  he  called 
to  mind  the  sovereign  power  of  Om- 
nipotence ;  for  which  reason,  how- 
ever opposite  her  case  might  be  to 
the  nature  of  things  in  general,  her 
vindication  might  be  well  grounded. 
He  now  thought  himself  bound  by 
every  tie  of  justice  and  duty  to  pre- 
serve her  character,  inviolable; 
though,  as  he  was  a  just  man,  and 
a  most  religious  observer  of  the 
law,  the  assertions  she  made  did 
not  appear  to  him  sufficient  to  justify 
him  in  retaining  her  in  his  house. 

While  he  was  thus  ruminating  on 
this  particular  event,  he  was  over- 
taken with  a  pleasing  slumber,  and 
received  a  communication  from  hea- 
ven, which  completely  revealed  the 
cause  and  manner  of  Mary's  preg- 
nancy, dispelled  his  doubts,  and 
encouraged  him  to  take  home  his 
falsely  suspected  spouse  :  "  Joseph, 
thou  son  of  David,  fear  not  to  take 
unto  thee  Mary  thy  wife ;  for  that 
which  is  conceived  in  her  is  of  the 
Holy  Ghost !" 


LORD  AND  SAVIOUR  JESUS  CHRIST 


13 


The  aged  Joseph  complied  with 
(he  voice  of  heaven  most  cheerfully ; 
for  no  sooner  did  the  morning  dawn 
appear,  than  he  arose  from  his  couch 
and  obeyed  the  commands  of  the 
Most  High,  by  relating  to  his  wife  his 
being  assured  of  her  innocence,  and 
immediately  restored  her  to  former 
favour.  While  he  related  to  her  the 
manner  of  this  extraordinary  revela- 
tion by  a  messenger  from  the  hea- 
venly Canaan,  he  discovered  in  her  a 
remarkable  chastity  of  heart,  entirely 
conformable  to  so  mysterious  an 
operation,  and  knew  her  not  till 
she  had  brought,  forth  the  great 
Redeemer  of  Israel. 

Thus  was  fulfilled  that  which  was 
foretold  by  the  prophets,  and  parti- 
cularly the  prediction  of  Isaiah, 
which  imported,  that  a  Virgin  should 
bring  forth  a  son.  "  Behold  a  V  irgin 
shall  conceive,  and  bear  a  son,  and 
shall  call  his  name  Immanuel,"  Isa. 
vii.  14;  which,  being  interpreted,  is 
God  with  us. 


CHAPTER  II. 

General  decree  for  taxation  published.  Birth  of 
Christ.  Declaration  of  the  same  to  the  shep- 
herds. Circumcision  and  presentation  of  Christ 
in  the  temple.  The  wise  men  of  the  east  worship 
the  Holy  Child.  Flight  of  Joseph  into  Egypt. 
Massacre  of  the  infants  at  Bethlehem.  Death 
of  Herod.     Return  of  Joseph  out  of  Egypt. 

A  UGUSTUS  Caesar,  the  Roman 
^  emperor,  having,  at  this  time, 
issued  an  edict  for  a  general  taxation 


on  all  the  nations,  cities,  and  towns 
subject  to  the  empire,  king  Herod, 
in  consequence  of  that  decree,  com- 
manded all  under  his  government 
to  muster  in  the  city  of  his  people, 
or  place  of  his  descent,  that  an 
estimate  might  be  taken  of  their 
persons  and  effects.  Pursuant  to 
this  order,  Joseph  and  Mary,  as  de- 
scendants from  the  line  of  David, 
departed  from  Nazareth,  where  they 
then  resided,  and  came  to  Beth- 
lehem, a  city  of  Judea,  the  place 
of  the  nativity  of  David  and  his  an- 
cestors. 

So  numerous  were  the  people  that 
repaired  to  this  place,  on  account  of 
the  general  decree,  that  every  dwell- 
ing was  occupied  ;  and  Joseph  and 
Mary,  though  they  could  not  depart 
thence  till  after  the  taxation,  were 
forced  to  take  up  their  residence  in 
a  humble  stable,  the  spot  in  which 
it  pleased  the  Divine  wisdom  should 
be  born  the  Lord  of  Life  and  Glory, 
who,  as  a  perfect  example  of  humi- 
lity to  all  his  followers,  was  to  make 
his  entrance  into,  and  his  exit  out  of, 
the  lower  world  in  the  same  mean 
and  humble  manner.  In  this  lowly 
tenement  the  blessed  Virgin  brought 
forth  her  first-born  Godlike  Son, 
wrapped  him  in  swaddling-clothes, 
and  laid  him  (having  no  better 
place)  in  a  manger. 

It  is  remarkable,  that  all  the  ge- 
nerations of  the  intervening  spaces 


14 


THE  LIFE  OF  OUR 


between  three  of  the  most  remark- 
able periods,  relative  to  the  house 
of  David,  and  the  birth  of  our 
blessed  Saviour,  are  exactly  the 
same ;  for  the  Evangelist  Matthew 
informs  us,  that  all  the  generations 
from  Abraham  to  David,  are  fourteen 
generations ;  and  from  David  unto 
the  Babylonish  captivity  are  four- 
teen generations  ;  and  from  the  Ba- 
bylonish captivity  unto  the  birth  of 
Christ  are  also  fourteen  generations. 
The  same  evangelist  also  traces  his 
genealogy  from  Abraham,  and 
proves  his  lineal  descent  from  that 
father  of  the  faithful,  through  the 
line  of  David,  from  race  to  race,  to 
that  of  the  humble  Virgin,  and  the 
aged  Joseph. 

But  to  return  to  the  immediate 
subject  of  our  history  :  the  humble 
manner  in  which  the  blessed  Jesus 
made  his  appearance  in  the  world,  did 
not  long  eclipse  the  glory  of  his  de- 
scent ;  a  heavenly  messenger  being 
dispatched  from  above  to  apprize 
mankind  of  their  Saviour's  incarna- 
tion. It  pleased  the  wise  Disposer 
of  all  things,  by  his  holy  angel,  first 
to  make  known  to  some  honest  shep- 
herds, who  were  watching  their  flocks 
by  night  in  the  neighbouring  fields, 
the  birth  of  the  long-promised,  long- 
expected  Messiah.  The  radiance 
which  shone  around  them  terrified 
the  astonished  peasants;  but,  in  order 
to  dissipate  their  fears,  and  confirm 


their  joys,  the  Divine  messenger  in- 
terposed, and  thus  addressed  them  : 
"  Fear  not !  for,  behold,  I  bring 
you  good  tidings  of  great  joy,  which 
shall  be  to  all  people  !  For  unto 
you  is  born,  this  day,  in  the  city  of 
David,  a  Saviour,  who  is  Christ  the 
Lord.  And  this  shall  be  a  sign 
unto  you;  ye  shall  find  the  babe 
wrapped  up  in  swaddling-clothes, 
lying  in  a  manger." 

The  glorious  news  was  no  sooner 
proclaimed,  than  a  number  of  the 
celestial  choir  were  heard  to  resound 
the  praises  of  the  Almighty,  for  this 
transcendent  display  of  his  goodness 
to  sinful  men :  "  Glory  to  God  in 
the  highest,  and  on  earth,  peace, 
good-will  towards  men !"  Trans- 
ported with  the  happy  tidings  of  the 
birth  of  the  Redeemer  of  Israel, 
the  angel  no  sooner  departed,  than 
the  shepherds  hastened  to  Bethle- 
hem in  quest  of  the  babe,  whom, 
according  to  the  information  of  the 
sacred  missionary,  they  found  wrapt 
in  swaddling-clothes,  and  lying  in  a 
manger.  This  event,  so  exactly  con- 
formable to  the  angel's  prediction, 
equally  delighted  and  amazed  them; 
nor  could  they  conceal  the  purport 
of  his  mission,  but  published  abroad 
all  they  had  seen  and  heard. 

Having  viewed  with  praise  and 
wonder  their  long-expected  Saviour, 
and  offered  up  their  grateful  praises 
to  God  for  the  manifestation  of  his 


LORD  AND  SAVIOUR  JESUS  CHRIST. 


15 


goodness  to  mankind,  they  departed 
with  hearts  filled  with  love  and  gra- 
titude, still  glorifying  the  Almighty 
Parent  of  universal  nature. 

After  the  expiration  of  eight  days 
from  the  birth  of  the  Holy  Infant, 
he  was  circumcised  according  to  the 
Mosaic  institution,  and  his  name  was 
called  Jesus  :  that  appellation  being 
given  him  by  the  angel,  who  ap- 
peared to  the  Virgin  Mary  before  her 
conception.  It  was  requisite  that  he 
should  conform  to  this  custom ;  a 
ceremony  which  characterized  the 
Jewish  nation,  and  was  one  of  the 
principal  injunctions  of  the  Mosaic 
law  under  which  he  was  born,  in 
order  to  fulfil  all  that  is  spoken  of 
him  in  the  Scriptures. 

Besides,  as  all  the  promises  made 
to  Abraham  were  to  be  fulfilled  in 
the  Messiah,  it  was  necessary  he 
should  receive  the  seal  of  circum- 
cision, in  order  to  prove  his  descent 
from  the  Patriarch,  concerning 
whom  it  was  foretold,  "  In  thy  seed 
shall  all  the  families  of  the  earth  be 
blessed."  As  a  further  reason  for 
our  Lord's  compliance  with  this 
Jewish  institution,  we  may  urge  the 
propriety  of  his  finishing  the  former 
dispensation,  by  an  exact  adherence 
to  its  rules,  as  he  was  about  to  esta- 
blish another  and  better  covenant ; 
which  could  not  be  effected  more 
fully,  than  by  conforming  to  that 
sacrament  which  was  of  Divine  in- 


junction, and  indispensably  requisite 
to  admission  into  the  former. 

As  the  same  institution  also  re- 
quired that  every  first-born  son,  with- 
out any  regard  to  circumstance  or 
family,  should  be  presented  to  the 
Lord,  in  the  temple,  by  delivering 
him  into  the  hands  of  the  priest,  and 
paying  five  shekels,  together  with  an 
offering,  which,  from  the  poorer  sort, 
consisted  of  a  pair  of  turtle-doves, 
or  two  young  pigeons,  a  ceremonv 
in  commemoration  of  the  Divine 
mercy,  in  sparing  the  first-born  in 
Israel,  when  those  of  Egypt,  both 
men  and  beasts,  were  destroyed :  his 
parents  having  tarried  at  Bethlehem 
till  the  days  of  Mary's  purification 
were  accomplished,  brought  the 
child  Jesus  to  Jerusalem,  and  there 
presented  him  in  the  temple  to  the 
Lord,  in  the  manner  just  described, 
with  the  offering  allowed  to  the 
lower  order  of  the  people ;  a  re- 
peated instance  of  the  exact  obedi- 
ence of  the  immaculate  Jesus  to  the 
ceremonial  law  as  well  as  the  pov- 
erty of  his  parents,  though  descended 
from  the  royal  house  of  Israel. 

During  the  presentation  of  the 
Holy  Infant,  there  enteredthe temple 
apious  and  venerable  old  man,  named 
Simeon,  who,  with  all  the  devout,  had 
"  waited  day  and  night  for  the  con- 
solation of  Israel,"  and  to  whom  it 
had  been  revealed  by  the  Spirit  of 
Truth,  that  he  should  not  depart  this 


16 


THE  LIFE  OF  OUR 


mortal  life  till  he  had  seen  the  Lord 
of  life  and  salvation. 

Accordingly  it  was  signified  to  him 
by  the  Holy  Spirit,  at  whose  instance 
he  came  at  the  precise  time  into  the 
temple, thatthe  child  there  presented 
was  the  long-expected  Messiah,  even 
the  Redeemer  of  Israel.  In  an  ecs- 
tasy of  joy  he  embraced  the  heavenly 
Infant  in  his  arms,  and  broke  out 
into  this  rhapsody,  "  Lord,  now  let- 
test  thou  thy  servant  depart  in  peace, 
according  to  thy  word  :  for  mine 
eyes  have  seen  thy  salvation,  which 
thou  hast  prepared  before  the  face 
of  all  people ;  a  light  to  lighten  the 
Gentiles,  and  the  glory  of  thy  people 
Israel."     Luke  ii.  29. 

The  exultation  of  Simeon  asto- 
nished the  parents  of  our  Lord ;  not 
as  being  unworthy  of  the  Divine  sub- 
ject of  it,  to  which  are  due  strains 
far  superior  either  to  men  or  angels, 
but  as  evincing  the  old  man's  certain 
knowledge  that  the  child  was  the 
promised  Messiah,  though  he  was 
an  absolute  stranger.  But  their 
surprise  was  speedily  removed  by 
Simeon's  saying  unto  Mary  his  mo- 
ther, "  Behold,  this  child  is  set  for 
the  fall  and  rising  again  of  many 
in  Israel;"  or,  in  other  wor'Ts,  this 
is  the  stumbling-block  and  rock  of 
offence  which  it  was  long  foretold 
by  God  should  be  laid  in  Zion,  and 
which  should  occasion  the  fall  of 
many  in  Israel;    for,  through  the 


humble  manner  of  his  birth,  and  his 
abject  state  upon  earth,  he  became 
despised  and  rejected  of  men ;  yet 
he  is  set  for  the  rising  again  of 
many,  who  shall  rely  on  his  merits, 
and  submit  to  his  government. 

Commentators  are  divided  in  their 
opinions  concerningthisold Simeon. 
Some  think  that  he  was  of  the  order 
of  the  priesthood,  and  that  he  ut- 
tered the  words  cited  above  while 
he  was  presenting  the  child  to  the 
Lord,  in  the  office  of  his  function. 
But,  as  the  Evangelist,  who  recites 
in  a  particular  manner  the  presenta- 
tion of  our  blessed  Lord,  is  silent 
on  that  head,  it  appears  little  more 
than  conjecture. 

Others  affirm  he  was  Simon  the 
Just,  a  disciple  of  the  most  famous 
Hillel,  the  master  of  Gamaliel,  under 
whom  the  apostle  Paul  received  his 
education ;  and  that,  while  he  was 
attempting  to  explain  to  the  people 
that  passage  in  the  celebrated  pro- 
phecy-of  Isaiah,  "  Behold  a  Virgin 
shall  conceive,  and  bear  a  son,"  it 
was  revealed  to  him  that  he  should 
see,  with  mortal  eyes,  the  promised 
Messiah  ;  and  that,  on  his  beholding 
the  holy  child  and  his  mother  in 
the  temple,  he  broke  out  into  that 
well-known  beautiful  rhapsody.  But 
this  could  not  be,  for  Simon  the  Just 
lived  till  forty-one  years  after  the 
death  of  our  Lord  ;  and  it  has  been 
affirmed  by  Eusebius.  that  he  was 


LORD  AND  SAVIOUR  JESUS  CHRIST. 


17 


not  above  seventy  years  old  when 
he  died.  Besides,  it  is  remarkable 
that  the  Almighty,  at  that  time,  was 
pleased  to  reveal  his  designs  with 
respect  to  the  Messiah,  not  to  the 
great,  the  wise,  and  the  learned,  but 
to  the  poor  and  illiterate,  such  as 
Joseph  a  carpenter,  Zacharias  an 
ordinary  priest,  and  a  company  of 
shepherds ;  therefore,  as  the  point 
is  not  settled,  we  presume  to  oner  it 
as  our  opinion,  that  this  old  man, 
to  whom  God  was  pleased  to  make 
so  extraordinary  a  revelation  con- 
cerning the  Saviour  of  the  world, 
was  a  plain,  honest  man,  rather 
more  eminent  for  the  goodness  of 
his  heart  than  the  knowledge  of  his 
head;  and  who  possessed  more  piety 
and  devotion  than  learning  or  earthly 
pomp. 

A  certain  good  prophetess,  called 
Anna,  who  had  a  long  time  waited 
for  the  redemption  of  Israel,  entering 
the  temple  at  the  instant  in  which 
Simeon  exulted  in  the  birth  of  the 
heavenly  Infant,  and  finding  that  he 
was  the  promised  Messiah,  likewise 
joined  with  him  in  praising  God, 
and  went  forth  and  declared  the 
glad  tidings  of  salvation  to  all  the 
faithful  in  those  parts. 

Having,  in  every  respect,  com- 
plied with  the  rights  and  ceremonies 
contained  in  the  law  of  Moses, 
Joseph  and  Mary,  with  the  child 
Jesus,  entered  into  Galilee,  to  their 


own  city,  Nazareth.  They  did  not, 
however,  long  abide  there;  for, 
having  adjusted  their  affairs,  they 
returned  again  to  Bethlehem,  the 
place  of  our  Lord's  nativity. 

This  step  seems  to  have  been  pur* 
sued  in  consequence  of  their  opinion 
that  it  was  necessary,  in  order  to  his 
being  acknowledged  the  Messiah 
sent  of  God,  that  he  should  reside 
some  time  in  the  place  of  his  birth. 
Whatever  was  their  motive  for  re- 
moval, it  was  evident  from  Scrip- 
ture, that  while  they  were  in  Beth- 
lehem with  their  Son,  certain  eastern 
philosophers,  called  Magi,  or  Wise 
Men,  came,  in  consequence  of  the 
appearance  they  had  seen,  to  Jeru- 
salem, and  inquired  for  the  king  of 
the  Jews,  declaring  they  had  seen 
his  star  in  their  own  quarter,  and 
were  come  to  pay  him  the  adora- 
tions due  to  his  dignity. 

Various  conjectures  have  been 
formed  by  the  learned  concerning 
this  star  which  is  said  to  have  ap- 
peared in  the  east.  Some  think  it 
was  the  Spirit  of  God,  others  an 
angel,  some  a  comet,  others  a  lumi- 
nous appearance,  &c.  A  modern 
writer  is  of  opinion,  it  was  the  glory 
that  surrounded  the  angels  who  ap- 
peared to  the  shepherds  at  Beth- 
lehem, on  the  night  of  our  blessed 
Lord's  nativity. 

But  notwithstanding  these  uncer- 
tain conjectures,  the  star  answered 
E 


18 


THE  LIFE  OF  OUR    ' 


the  end  designed,  and  directed  the 
Magi  to  the  spot  where  resided  the 
Lord  of  life  and  glory.  Some  men, 
too  wise  to  admit  of  the  evidences 
from  Revelation,  have  sceptically  in- 
quired howthese  Eastern  Magi  could 
arrive  at  any  knowledge  that  the  Jews 
expectedthe  Messiah,  and  that,  there- 
fore, on  appearance  of  this  new  star 
in  the  firmament,  how  they  should 
apprehend  it  pointed  out  the  birth  of 
the  great  Redeemer  of  Israel  ?  The 
learned  assertors  of  the  Christian 
cause,  in  answer  to  these  queries, 
observe,  that  an  opinion  of  the  ap- 
proach of  the  Messiah's  kingdom  had 
long  prevailed  all  over  the  east;  nay, 
this  is  declared  in  profane  history, 
by  Suetonius,  Tacitus,  and  Josephus. 
The  reason  of  this  prevailing  opi- 
nion is  Very  obvious.  The  Jews  con- 
ceived mighty  expectations  of  the 
Messiah,  from  the  many  prophecies 
concerninghim  recorded  in  their  own 
language ;  and  the  Arabians,  from 
the  many  prophecies  of  the  same 
import  made  to  Abraham ;  it  being 
certain  that  those  people  retained 
traditional  knowledge  of  this  pro- 
mise, and  the  words  of  Balaam,  who 
was  an  Arabian  prophet :  "  There 
shall  come  a  star  out  of  Jacob,  and 
a  sceptre  shall  arise  out  of  Israel ;" 
which  every  impartial  reader  must 
acknowledge  rather  refers  to  the  ap- 
pearance of  the  Messiah  than  any 
other  incident  whatever. 


The  other  eastern  nations  derived 
their  expectations  of  the  Messiah 
from  their  commercial  connexions 
with  the  Jews  and  Arabians,  but 
more  especially  from  the  Jews,  who 
being  scattered  over  the  whole 
country  of  the  east,  spread  their 
religion  wherever  they  went,  which 
occasioned  several  Roman  historians 
to  take  notice  of  the  prevalence  of 
that  opinion. 

Nay,  the  expectation  of  the  Mes- 
siah beingborn  in  Judea,  was  strongly 
impressed  on  the  minds  of  the  fol- 
lowers of  Zoroaster,  who  reformed 
the  religion  of  the  Persians,  being 
servant  to  the  prophet  Daniel,  and 
being  particularly  favoured  with  re- 
velations concerning  the  Messiah. 

From  these  considerations  it  evi- 
dently appears,  that  this  opinion 
prevailed  throughout  the  east,  and 
that  the  Magi  might  with  great  rea- 
son, on  the  appearance  of  the  star, 
repair  to  Jerusalem  in  quest  of  the 
promised  Saviour  of  Israel. 

But  to  leave  this  subject,  as  not 
immediately  appertaining  to  our  pur- 
pose, the  whole  city  of  Jerusalem 
was  alarmed  at  the  unexpected  ar- 
rival of  the  eastern  Magi ;  an  event 
which  much  perplexed  the  tyrant 
Herod,  whose  jealous  and  ambi- 
tious mind  maintained  the  utmost 
aversion  to  the  very  thought  of  a 
rival,  or  competitor,  and  conse- 
quently could  not  brook  a  report  that 


LORD  AND  SAVIOUR  JESUS  CHRIST. 


19 


favoured  the  news  of  the  birth  of  the 
king  of  the  Jews. 

Disguising,  however,  his  revenge- 
ful principle,  he  received  the  Magi 
with  seeming  respect,  attended  to  the 
design  of  their  errand  with  affected 
complacency,  and,  for  the  purpose  of 
gratifying  their  curiosity,  summoned 
a  general  council,  and  demanded  of 
them  where  Christ  should  be  born  ? 
The  council  did  not  keep  him  long 
in  suspense,  for,  well  remembering 
that  the  prophets  had  particularly 
foretold  the  place  of  his  birth,  they 
replied  to  the  demand  of  their  king, 
"  In  Bethlehem  of  Judea  ;"  and  to 
confirm  their  answer,  cited  prophetic 
authority  :  "  And  thou,  Bethlehem, 
in  the  land  of  Judea,  art  not  the  least 
among  the  princes  of  Juda ;  for  out 
of  thee  shall  come  a  Governor  that 
shall  rule  my  people  Israel,"  Matt. 
ii.  6.  The  tyrant  king,  in  conse- 
omence  of  the  reply  from  the  supreme 
council  of  the  nation,  directed  the 
Magi  to  Bethlehem,  as  the  place,  ac- 
cording to  ancient  prophecy,  de- 
signed forthehonour  of  our  Saviour's 
nativity,  earnestly  entreating  them, 
at  the  same  time,  immediately  on 
their  finding  out  the  child,  to  send 
him  word,  thathemightrepairthither, 
and  pay  his  adoration  to  him  also. 

But  this  was  mere  pretence,  and 
vile  hypocrisy ;  for  so  far  was  king 
Herod  from  entertaining  any  religi- 
ous regard  for  the  infant  Jesus,  that 


he  resolved  in  his  heart  to  destroy 
him  aj  soon  as  he  should  be  found ; 
looking  on  him  as  designed  for  a 
temporal  prince,  who  would  expel 
him  or  his  descendants  from  the 
throne  of  Judea,  instead  of  a  prince 
whose  kingdom  was  to  be  wholly 
spiritual,  and  whose  throne  was  not 
to  be  established  upon  earth,  but  in 
the  heavenly  Jerusalem. 

We  have  no  greater  evidence  of 
the  divinity  of  our  Saviour's  mission, 
than  his  miraculous  preservation  from 
the  designs  of  the  ambitious  and  vin- 
dictive Herod.  The  tyrant,  in  this 
case,  acted  with  the  utmost  subtlety ; 
he  therefore  declined  accompanying 
the  wise  men  in  person,  nor  did  he 
even  send  attendants  with  them,  who, 
under  the  guise  of  honouring  them, 
might  have  secretly  informed  him  of 
the  abode  of  the  Messiah,  or  actually 
destroy  both  the  child  and  his  pa- 
rents ;  in  reality,  he  acted  as  if  the 
event  gave  him  no  concern,  and  in 
a  manner  wholly  different  from  the 
general  expectation  of  the  people. 

However,  the  Magi,  having  ob- 
tained the  intelligence  they  sought 
in  Jerusalem,  set  forward  under 
the  guidance  of  the  same  star  that 
conducted  them  from  their  native 
country,  but  had  left  them  on  their 
arrival  in  Judea,  which  was  the 
cause  of  their  directing  their  course 
to  the  capital,  in  order  to  seek  that 
information  which  by  the  desertion 


20 


THE  LIFE  OF  OUR 


of  the  star  became  requisite.  Thus 
we  perceive  that  the  design  of  the 
Almighty  in  directing  the  eastern 
Magi  to  the  capital  of  Judea,  was, 
that  the  whole  nation  might  be 
made  acquainted  with  the  cause  of 
their  journey. 

Accordingly,  they  had  no  sooner 
proceeded  from  Jerusalem,  on  their 
way  to  Bethlehem,  than  their  kind 
conductor  again  appeared,  went  be- 
fore them  to  the  very  city,  and  fixed 
on  the  habitation  of  the  heavenly  In- 
fant. Guided  by  this  celestial  con- 
ductor, they  entered  the  house,  and 
prostrating  themselves  at  the  sacred 
feet  of  the  spiritual  King,  presented 
him  with  gifts  of  gold,  frankincense, 
and  myrrh.  Having  thus  accom- 
plished the  design  of  the  expedition, 
they  proposed,  according  to  promise, 
returning  to  Jerusalem  ;  but  being 
diverted  from  that  intention  by  a 
dream,  in  which  they  were  warned 
by  God  of  Herod's  design,  they  pur- 
sued another  course  towards  their 
own  country,  and  by  those  means 
defeated  his  malicious  purpose. 

But  it  is  natural  and  reasonable 
to  suppose  that  the  end  of  the  Di- 
vine Wisdom,  in  directing  these 
eastern  Magi  to  the  kingdom  of 
Judea  to  worship  the  child  Jesus, 
was  not  merely  to  gratify  the  curi- 
osity of  the  wise  men,  because  the 
event  promoted  many  other  very  im- 
portant designs,  some  of  which  we 


shall  mention.  It  proved  to  suc- 
ceeding ages  the  great  expectation 
the  Gentiles  formed  of  the  appear- 
ance of  the  Messiah,  and  conse- 
quently established  the  truth  of 
those  prophecies  which  related  to 
that  event,  as  well  as  excited  in  the 
minds  of  men  the  most  sanguine 
hopes  and  longing  desires. 

As  these  Magi  doubtless  reported, 
on  their  return  to  their  countrymen, 
the  particulars  they  had  heard  and 
seen  in  the  kingdom  of  Judea,  rela- 
tive to  the  Messiah,  such  report 
must  certainly  have  promoted  the 
belief  of  the  gospel  in  those  parts, 
when  afterwards  preached  there  by 
the  apostles.  The  expedition  of  the 
wise  men  was  the  cause  of  the  answer 
of  the  Sanhedrim,  in  which  it  was 
unanimously  declared  to  be  the  opi- 
nion of  all  the  Jewish  rabbies  then 
living,  that,  according  to  ancient  pro- 
phecies, Bethlehem  was  the  place 
appointed  by  the  Almighty  to  give 
birth  to  the  promised  Messiah. 

Italso  contributed  to  another  valu- 
able purpose,  in  that  the  offerings  of 
the  wise  men  procured  a  subsistence 
for  the  holy  family  in  Egypt,  whither 
they  were  soon  after  warned  to  fly,  in 
order  to  escape  the  vengeance  of  the 
enraged  king;  for  no  sooner  had  the 
wise  men  departed  from  Bethlehem, 
than  Joseph  was  warned  by  a  hea- 
venly messenger  of  the  barbarous 
purpose  of  Herod,  and  commanded 


LORD  AND  SAVIOUR  JESUS  CHRIST. 


21 


to  fly  into  Egypt,  with  the  young 
child  and  his  mother. 

Joseph,  in  obedience  to  the  Al- 
mighty's command,  rose  that  night, 
and  fled  into  Egypt,  "and  was  there 
untilthe  death  of  Herod,  that  it  might 
be  fulfilled  which  was  spoken  of  the 
Lord,  by  the  prophet,  saying,  Out 
of  Egypt  have  I  called  my  Son." 
This  prophecy,  which  is  quoted  from 
Hosea,  seems  originally  to  refer  to 
the  Israelites ;  though  the  evange- 
list's reference  will  be  amply  justi- 
fied, by  considering  that  the  Egyp- 
tian captivity  alludes  to  their  subjec- 
tion of  the  Israelites  to  great  hard- 
ships, and  their  deliverance  from  the 
same  by  an  Almighty  hand. 

Now,  as  the  departure  of  the  holy 
family  into  Egypt  was  in  obedience 
to  the  Divine  command,  in  order 
to  protect  the  Infant  from  the  in- 
censed Llerod,  the  application  of 
the  prophet,  "  Out  of  Egypt  have 
I  called  my  Son,"  appears  very  just 
as  well  as  elegant.  The  king  of 
Judea  long  waited,  with  the  most 
earnest  expectation,  the  return  of 
the  wise  men,  being  anxious  to  glut 
his  full  resentment  on  the  innocent 
Jesus ;  till,  from  their  long  delay, 
he  began  to  suspect  a  delusion,  and 
that  his  designs  were  frustrated  by 
some  extraordinary  interposition  of 
Providence. 

A  t  length,  irritated  by  disappoint- 
ment, he  resolved  to  accomplish  by 


cruelty  a  resolution  he  could  not 
effect  by  art,  and  accordingly  issued 
orders  to  a  large  party  of  soldiers  to 
go  throughout  Bethlehem,  and  the 
neighbouring  villages,  and  massacre 
all  the  children  they  could  find  therein 
that  were  two  years  old  and  under ; 
thinking  that  the  infant  Jesus,  whom, 
as  a  prince,  he  both  envied  and 
dreaded,  of  course  would  fall  in  the 
general  slaughter.  But  the  heavenly 
Missionary  was  sheltered  from  above ; 
norwas  the  relentless  king  permitted 
to  impede  the  designs  of  an  Al- 
mighty Creator.  However, the  cities 
through  which  the  soldiers  carried 
their  destructive  swords  exhibited 
such  scenes  of  horror  and  distress, 
as  could  not  fail  to  thrill  every  soul 
not  entirely  lost  to  humanity.  No 
sound  was  heard  but  the  piercing 
cries  of  parents,  the  groans  of  ex- 
piring babes,  and  a  general  impre- 
cation of  vengeance  on  the  merciless 
tyrant.  But  he  did  not  long  survive 
the  cruel  decree,  being  swept  away 
by  a  nauseous  disease,  to  answer  for 
his  conduct  at  the  bar  of  a  tremen- 
dous Judge. 

No  description  can  paintthe  horror 
and  dismay  of  such  a  scene  of  relent- 
less cruelty  in  a  more  glaring  light 
than  the  verse  quoted  by  the  evan- 
gelist Matthew,  from  the  prophet 
Jeremiah  :  "  Then  was  fulfilled  that 
which  was  spoken  by  Jeremiah  the 
prophet,  saying,  In  Rama  there  was 


22 


THE  LIFE  OF  OUR 


a  voice  heard,  lamentations  and 
weeping,  and  great  mourning.  Ra- 
chel weeping  for  her  children,  and 
would  not  be  comforted  because  they 
were  not."  This  prophecy  must  not 
be  understood  literally,  but  descrip- 
tively, or  as  a  figure  used  to  display 
the  horror  of  the  scene  as  there  ap- 
plied by  the  evangelist,  in  which  ac- 
ceptation it  has  a  peculiar  beauty ; 
representing  Rachel,  the  beloved 
wife  of  Jacob,  buried  many  years 
ago  in  the  fields  of  Bethlehem, 
awakened  by  the  cries  of  the  slaugh- 
tered children,  bursting  even  the 
chains  of  death,  and  lamenting  the 
hapless  fate  of  the  murdered  inno- 
cents which  surrounded  her. 

The  tyrant  Herod  being  thus  cut 
from  off  the  face  of  the  earth,  Joseph 
was  warned  by  a  heavenly  messen- 
ger to  return  to  the  land  of  Israel. 
The  good  old  man  obeyed  the  Al- 
mighty's command,  and  he  appears 
to  have  had  a  great  desire  of  re- 
siding in  Judea,  and  very  probably 
in  the  city  of  Bethlehem;  but  hear- 
ing that  Herod  was  succeeded  in  his 
throne  by  his  son  Archelaus,  and 
fearing  that  he  might  pursue  the 
barbarous  design  of  his  father,  he 
directed  his  course  another  way: 
but  being  warned  again  by  a  hea- 
venly mission,  he  retired  into  Gali- 
lee, which  was  then  under  the  go- 
vernment of  a  mild  and  benevolent 
prince,  called  Antepas,  and  took  up 


his  residence  at  Nazareth,  where  the 
particular  circumstances  which  at- 
tended the  birth  of  the  ever-blessed 
Jesus  were  not  generally  known. 
The  evangelist  affirms  that  Joseph, 
with  the  infant  and  his  mother,  re- 
sided in  Nazareth,  where  the  holy 
Jesus  spent  his  youth ;  "  That  it 
might  be  fulfilled  which  was  spoken 
by  the  prophet,  He  shall  be  called  a 
Nazarene." 

The  advocates  for  infidelity,  who 
notice  the  smallest  inaccuracy  in  the 
sacred  Scriptures,  have  not  failed 
to  observe,  that  the  evangelist  re- 
fers here  to  what  he  cannot  justify 
from  any  of  the  prophetical  writ- 
ings, in  which  there  are  no  such 
words  to  be  found  as  "  He  shall 
be  called  a  Nazarene."  But  be  it 
known,  that  the  evangelist  may  with 
justice  be  vindicated  from  the  im- 
propriety, by  reminding  these  scep- 
tics, that  though  the  very  words  are 
nottobe  found,  the  allusion  is  just,  and 
consequently  the  application.  This 
expression  refers  to  the  general  con- 
tempt and  ridicule  in  which  the  Is- 
raelites held  the  Galileans,  and  espe- 
cially the  JNazarenes,  who  were  even 
despised  by  the  Galileans  themselves, 
insomuch,  that  the  word  Nazarene 
became  a  term  of  reproach. 

Now,  as  the  prophets  in  general 
foretold  the  disgrace  and  infamy 
through  which  the  blessed  Jesus 
should  pass,  they  consequently  fore- 


LORD  AND  SAVIOUR  JESUS  CHRIST. 


23 


told  he  should  be  called  a  Nazarene, 
or  exposed  to  every  token  of  con- 
tempt and  ridicule,  of  which  this 
appellation  at  that  time  was  a  re- 
markable instance. 

It  is  evident  that  our  Lord's  resi- 
dence at  Nazareth  tended  in  a  re- 
markable manner  to  the  fulfilment 
of  those  prophecies,  because  in  the 
course  of  his  public  ministry  he  was 
frequently  reproached  with  the  same, 
and  his  countrymen  often  urged  it  as 
a  reason  for  their  disregard  of  his 
doctrine.  But  as  the  stubbornness 
of  unbelief  will  never  admit  of  con- 
viction, we  have  therefore  added 
these  remarks,  to  confirm  the  faith 
of  the  Christian,  rather  than  con- 
vince the  obstinate  Infidel. 


CHAPTER  III. 

State  of  our  Lord's  childhood  and  private  life. 
His  argument  with  the  Jewish  doctors.  Mis- 
sion, character,  and  doctrine  of  the  Baptism 
of  Christ,  and  visible  descent  of  the  Spirit  on 
that  solemnity. 

THE  precise  circumstances  of  our 
Lord's  childhood  and  life,  pre- 
vious to  his  public  ministry,  cannot 
be  ascertained  from  the  writings  of 
any  of  the  evangelists  ;  which  can 
only  be  relied  on  as  authentic.  All 
we  can  gather  from  those  inspired 
men  is,  that  the  faculties  of  his  mind 
were  enlarged  in  proportion  to  the 
growth  of  his  body,  insomuch  that 
he  arrived  at  the  very  perfection  of 


heavenly  wisdom.  As  his  parents 
were  low  and  poor,  he  had  not  the 
advantage  of  a  finished  education ; 
and  he  seems  to  have  received  no 
other  instruction  than  what  his 
parents  gave  him,  in  conformity  to 
the  Jewish  laws.  But  supernatural 
abilities  amply  compensated  for  the 
deficiency  of  natural  acquirements ; 
and  he  gave  instances  in  his  earliest 
years  of  amazing  penetration  and 
consummate  wisdom. 

According  to  the  Mosaic  institu- 
tion, his  parents  annually  went  up  to 
Jerusalem ;  and  when  he  arrived  at 
the  age  of  twelve  years,  carried  him 
with  them  to  that  city,  in  order  that 
he  might  early  imbibe  the  precepts 
of  religion  and  virtue.  In  this  place 
the  holy  Jesus  tarried  without  the 
knowledge,  and  consequently  the 
consent  of  his  parents,  who  departed 
with  the  rest  that  Were  going  towards 
Galilee  ;  and  thinking  that  he  was 
gone  forward  with  some  of  their  rela- 
tions or  acquaintance,  they  continued 
their  journey,  not  doubting  but  they 
should  overtake  him  on  the  road,  or 
meet  him  at  the  place  where  they  had 
appointed  to  lodge.  But  on  their  ar- 
rival, not  finding  the  child  in  the 
village  nor  amongst  their  relations, 
they  returned  to  Jerusalem  much 
troubled  ;  and,  after  a  most  anxious 
search  of  three  days,  found  him  in 
the  temple,  sittingamong  the  learned 
doctors,  who  were  amazed  at  the  wis- 


24 


THE  LIFE  OF  OUR 


dom  of  his  questions,  and  the  perti- 
nence of  his  replies,  which  were  far 
superior  to  the  utmost  they  could 
expect  from  one  of  his  tender  years 
and  mean  education. 

These  doctors,  or  expounders  of 
the  law  among  the  Jews,  always 
taught  the  people  publicly  on  three 
great  festivals ;  and  it  was  on  one  of 
thosepublicoccasionsthattheblessed 
Jesus  gave  such  manifest  proofs  of 
his  wisdom  and  penetration  as  asto- 
nished all  beholders,  many  of  whom 
thought  he  must  be  something  more 
than  human.  As,  according  to  his 
own  declaration,  he  was  employed  in 
his  heavenly  Father's  business,  it 
is  natural  to  think,  in  the  course  of 
his  disputes,  he  modestly  corrected 
some  of  the  errors  which  the  Jewish 
doctors  then  taught,  and  which  were 
repugnant  to  the  plan  of  that  true 
religion  he  came  to  promote  and 
establish.  The  wonder  of  his  parents 
in  finding  him  in  such  sublime  em- 
ployment, was  beyond  expression ; 
though  his  pious  mother,  notwith- 
standing the  pleasure  which  the  dis- 
covery afforded  her,  could  not  help 
showing  the  concern  which  his  ab- 
sence, without  their  knowledge  had 
occasioned  them,  by  addressing  him 
thus :  "  Son,  why  hast  thou  dealt 
thus  with  us?  behold,  thy  father 
and  I  have  sought  thee  sorrowing." 
To  this  question  he  replied,  "  That 
their  surprise  at  his  absenting  himself 


withouttheir  knowledge  was  ground- 
less and  absurd,  as  they  might  have 
been  assured  from  his  extraordinary 
birth,  and  the  wonderful  circum- 
stances attending  it,  that  his  Father 
was  no  less  than  the  Almighty  One 
of  Israel ;  that  he  assumed  human 
nature  to  promote  his  glorious  de- 
signs ;  and,  therefore,  as  his  errand 
was  of  such  moment,  they  must  not 
imagine  he  could  always  reside 
with  them.  How  is  it  that  ye  sought 
me  ?  Wist  ye  not  that  I  must  be 
about  my  Father's  business  ?" 

Though  his  parents  did  not  clearly 
discern  the  force  of  this  excellent 
remonstrance,  his  pious  mother  com- 
mitted his  words  to  memory,  and, 
together  with  Joseph  her  husband, 
joyfully  returned  with  him  to  their 
poor  dwelling  at  Nazareth,  where  he 
lived  with  them  in  dutiful  subjection, 
and  thereby  afforded  a  noble  exam- 
ple for  the  imitation  of  all  children, 
who  are  certainly  bound  to  yield 
obedience  to  their  parents,  since  the 
Son  of  God  himself,  when  on  earth, 
has  set  them  the  pattern,  practising 
every  branch  of  filial  duty  to  his 
earthly  parents. 

Our  Saviour  continued  in  this 
lowly  state  for  some  time,  during 
which  he  greatly  advanced  both  in 
knowledge  and  stature  ;  and  by  his 
extraordinary  qualities,  attracted 
the  regard  and  admiration  of  all  who 
either  saw  or  heard  him. 


PREMIUM     PLATE    GRATIS!!! 

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LIFE  OP   CHRIST 

KEY.    JOHN    FLEETWOOD,    D.D. 

(CAREFULLY  REVISED   AND   CORRECTED  FROM   THE   ORIGINAL  COPY  PRINTED  IN  1708), 

INTRODUCTORY  ESSAY  BY  THE  REV.  HENRY  STEERING,  D.D. 

The  many  editions  througn  which  this  excellent  book  has  passed,  furnish  sufficient  evidence  of 
its  importance  and  value.  Yet  it  is  not  until  recently  that  it  has  been  carefully  collated  and  com- 
pared with  the  original  work,  and  the  numerous  theological  writings  of  Fleetwood  ;  hence  the  many 
errors  with  which  all  other  editions  abound,  which,  detracting  as  they  do  from  the  reputation  of 
the  venerable  author,  and  the  glory  of  his  subject,  have  been  carefully  avoided  in  the  much  im- 
proved copy  now  offered  to  the  public. 

In  bringing  forth  a  standard  work  like  the  present,  it  became  the  duty  of  the  Publishers  to 
take  into  consideration  all  the  requirements  of  the  present  age.  and  this  they  have  not  failed  to  do. 
To  Mr.  Warren,  the  President  of  the  New  Water-Color  Society  of  London — whose  knowledge  in  all 
pictorial  matters  relating  to  the  East  is  as  widely  known  as  appreciated — was  intrusted  the  task  of 
producing  for  this  work  a  new  and  entire  scries  of  drawings,  wherein  costume  generally  has  been 
strictly  adhered  to,  as  well  as  all  the  characteristics  of  time  and  place  in  reference  to  the  Geography, 
Botany,  Manners  and  Customs  of  those  interesting  countries.  These  have  been  reproduced  on 
steel  by  engravers  of  eminence. 

It  has  been  the  aim  of  the  Publishers  to  comprise  within  the  limits  of  a  single  quarto  volume 
a  complete  Manual  of  Christian  Faith  and  Doctrine.  Actuated  by  this  desire,  they  have  added  to 
the  Life  of  Christ  the  following  standard  Treatises,  the  merits  of  which  are  too  well  known  to 
require  recommendation  beyond  an  enumeration  of  their  Titles: 

LIVES    OF    THE    APOSTLES    AND    EVANGELISTS, 

A  DISSERTATION   ON   HIE   EVIDENCES  OF   CHRISTIANITY : 
A  MEDITATION  ON  THE  LOVE  OF  CHRIST  AND  THE  CHRISTIAN  LAID  FORTH, 

BY   JOSEPH   HALL,   D.D. ; 

THE  GOLDEN   GROVE   AND   WORTHY   COMMUNICANT, 

BY  JEREMY  TAYLOR,   D.D. 
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